This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7110550.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ice-rescue tourists to fly home Chile to airlift rescued tourists
(about 8 hours later)
Passengers rescued from a cruise ship that sank after hitting ice in the Antarctic Ocean are expected to start their journeys home within hours. The Chilean air force is preparing to fly dozens of passengers and crew rescued from a cruise ship that sank in the Antarctic Ocean to Chile.
The 154 tourists and crew from the M/S Explorer have been spending the night at a military base on a Chilean island. The 154 tourists and crew from the M/S Explorer have been spending the night at Chilean and Uruguayan military bases on King George Island in Antarctica.
They are due to be flown to Chile and then to their home countries. The ship's operator Gap Adventures said they were in "good spirits". They will be flown to the mainland by military transport planes once weather conditions improve.
Some 23 Britons, 17 Dutch and 13 Americans were among those on board. The ship's operator Gap Adventures said those rescued were in "good spirits".
Some 23 Britons, 17 Dutch and 13 Americans were among those on board the ship, which sank after hitting an iceberg.
There were also 10 Australians and 10 Canadians and other nationalities included Irish, Danish, Swiss, Belgian, Japanese, French, German and Chinese, said Gap Adventures, a Toronto-based tour company.There were also 10 Australians and 10 Canadians and other nationalities included Irish, Danish, Swiss, Belgian, Japanese, French, German and Chinese, said Gap Adventures, a Toronto-based tour company.
Graphic: Key facts about M/S ExplorerGraphic: Key facts about M/S Explorer
All 91 passengers, nine guides and 54 crew members were safely evacuated to lifeboats, and then to another ship, after the Explorer was holed close to the South Shetland Islands, in the Antarctic Ocean. All 91 passengers, nine guides and 54 crew members were safely evacuated to lifeboats, and then to another ship, after the Explorer was holed close to the South Shetland Islands.
It listed, lay on its side for some hours and by Friday night the Chilean navy said it had sunk. The ship listed, lay on its side for some hours and by Friday night the Chilean navy said it had sunk.
'Seaworthy''Seaworthy'
Following the news of the incident, the specialist Lloyds List maritime publication said the 2,400-tonne Explorer had had five faults at its last inspection.Following the news of the incident, the specialist Lloyds List maritime publication said the 2,400-tonne Explorer had had five faults at its last inspection.
However, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), whose inspectors found the faults, said that they had all been rectified by the time the ship set sail again. We all got a little nervous when the ship began to list sharply and the lifeboats still hadn't been lowered John Cartwrightpassenger Worldwide rescue hub In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremes However, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), whose inspectors found the faults, said that they had all been rectified by the time the ship set sail again. Two passengers from the cabins down below came in wet, shouting: 'There's water, there's water! Andrea SalasArgentine guide Worldwide rescue hub In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremes
"These were not huge problems and were all rectified before the vessel sailed. It would not have been allowed to depart if everything had not been sorted out," MCA spokesman Mark Clarke said. "It would not have been allowed to depart if everything had not been sorted out," MCA spokesman Mark Clarke said.
A Gap Adventures spokesman, John Warner, said the ship, which had been sailing in polar waters since the 1960s, had been certified as seaworthy only last month.A Gap Adventures spokesman, John Warner, said the ship, which had been sailing in polar waters since the 1960s, had been certified as seaworthy only last month.
"The ship obviously goes through an annual rigorous inspection by the marine authorities," he told BBC News."The ship obviously goes through an annual rigorous inspection by the marine authorities," he told BBC News.
"What I am pleased to say is that the safety procedures for such an incident were adhered to, and all the passengers and crew are safe and well - and that's obviously of most importance to us as a company.""What I am pleased to say is that the safety procedures for such an incident were adhered to, and all the passengers and crew are safe and well - and that's obviously of most importance to us as a company."
Below freezingBelow freezing
The tour group had embarked from Ushuaia, on Argentina's southern tip, on 11 November for a 19-day "Spirit of Shackleton" cruise through the Drake Passage, costing from around $8,000 (£3,900) per cabin.The tour group had embarked from Ushuaia, on Argentina's southern tip, on 11 November for a 19-day "Spirit of Shackleton" cruise through the Drake Passage, costing from around $8,000 (£3,900) per cabin.
The ship ran into trouble approximately 120km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula.The ship ran into trouble approximately 120km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The company said pumps had been used in an effort to stop the ship sinking, but in the meantime the captain gave the order to abandon ship, and passengers were transferred to lifeboats.The company said pumps had been used in an effort to stop the ship sinking, but in the meantime the captain gave the order to abandon ship, and passengers were transferred to lifeboats.
After several hours bobbing on the sea amid floating sheets of ice, they were plucked to safety by the Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge.After several hours bobbing on the sea amid floating sheets of ice, they were plucked to safety by the Norwegian cruise ship, the Nordnorge.
Coastguards said although the weather conditions were good for this time of year, the average temperature was still -5C.Coastguards said although the weather conditions were good for this time of year, the average temperature was still -5C.
Speaking just after the rescue, passenger John Cartwright said: "We were in a lifeboat in fairly rough seas, strong winds. Argentine guide Andrea Salas, who was on the ship, told Argentina's Radio Continental what happened.
"We all got a little nervous when the ship began to list sharply and the lifeboats still hadn't been lowered. "I was in the ship's bar, having a drink with colleagues and some passengers when two passengers from the cabins down below came in wet, shouting: 'There's water, there's water!'
"We feel very relieved now. We're all sort of unwinding and happy to be up here warm and dry." "We ran out to see what was happening - and there was this hole in the cabins down below. The cabins were already quite flooded."
She said those on board abandoned ship in freezing conditions.
"There were people suffering from hypothermia and it felt like an eternity until the boats came to the rescue."
M/S EXPLORER Built: 1969, FinlandCapacity: 100 passengersTonnage: 2,400 Cruising speed: 11 knotsEngines: 3,800 hp dieselsCrew: 54 First custom-built expedition shipKnown as the 'Little Red Ship' to aficionadosBecame the first passenger vessel to navigate the North West passage in 1984Involved in rescue of crew from Argentine cargo vessel off Anvers Island, Antarctica, in 1989 Return to the top M/S EXPLORER Built: 1969, FinlandCapacity: 100 passengersTonnage: 2,400 Cruising speed: 11 knotsEngines: 3,800 hp dieselsCrew: 54 First custom-built expedition shipKnown as the 'Little Red Ship' to aficionadosBecame the first passenger vessel to navigate the North West passage in 1984Involved in rescue of crew from Argentine cargo vessel off Anvers Island, Antarctica, in 1989 Return to the top
Have you been on the Explorer? Do you know someone who may have been on this expedition? Are you involved in rescue operations? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
Have you been on the Explorer? Do you know someone who may have been on this expedition? Are you involved in rescue operations? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 0044 (0)7725 100 100 Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoYou can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 0044 (0)7725 100 100 Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name: