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Chile to airlift rescued tourists Chile to airlift rescued tourists
(30 minutes later)
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 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 Chilean and Uruguayan military bases on King George Island in Antarctica.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 will be flown to Punta Arenas on the mainland by military transport planes once weather conditions improve.They will be flown to Punta Arenas on the mainland by military transport planes once weather conditions improve.
The ship's operator Gap Adventures said those rescued were in "good spirits".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.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.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.
The ship 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. Two passengers from the cabins down below came in wet, shouting: 'There's water, there's water! Andrea SalasArgentine guide In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremesHowever, 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 In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremes
"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."
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.
Cruise ship 'fit' Worldwide rescue hub
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.
Cruise ship 'fit' Worldwide rescue hub
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.
Argentine guide Andrea Salas, who was on the ship, told Argentina's Radio Continental what happened. Passenger Gillian Plants, 40, of Manchester, England, praised the ship's captain for the way the evacuation was handled.
"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!' She told the BBC News website: "There was no panic at all and no injuries. Everybody is perfect, no bruises, no scratches."
She said the evacuees, clad in protective suits, passed the four-and-a-half-hour wait to be rescued by watching for whales.
She described how one man, a Danish passenger, proposed to his girlfriend in the lifeboat, having remembered to take the engagement ring with him when they were evacuated.
Argentine guide Andrea Salas, who was also on the ship, told Argentina's Radio Continental she was in the bar having a drink "when two passengers from the cabins down below came in wet, shouting: 'There's water, there's water!'
"We ran out to see what was happening - and there was this hole in the cabins down below. The cabins were already quite flooded.""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. She said: "There were people suffering from hypothermia and it felt like an eternity until the boats came to the rescue."
"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? Were 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? Were 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.
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