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Tourist airlift operation begins Tourist airlift operation begins
(about 4 hours later)
A Chilean military plane is on its way to pick up passengers of shipwrecked Antarctic vessel M/S Explorer. The Chilean air force has begun an operation to bring back shipwrecked Antarctic tourists from their refuge on King George Island to Chile's mainland.
The Hercules aircraft left Punta Arenas on the Chilean mainland for King George Island, where the 154 tourists and crew had spent the night. After a delay caused by bad weather, a Chilean Hercules transport aircraft sent to evacuate the 154 tourists and crew has landed on the island.
High winds and poor visibility earlier prevented the start of the operation, which is expected to need two flights. They had spent the night in military barracks on King George.
The tourists had taken to lifeboats after the Explorer hit an iceberg on Friday morning and later sank. The tourists had taken to lifeboats after their ship the Explorer hit an iceberg on Friday and later sank.
The Hercules left at Punta Arenas at 1220 local time (1520 GMT) and is expected to ferry back half of the passengers and crew. The Hercules had left Punta Arenas in Chile at 1220 local time (1520 GMT) and arrived on King George at about 1430.
Chilean officials said that, weather permitting, all would be evacuated by Sunday morning. At least two flights are thought to be needed.
There was no panic at all and no injuries. Everybody is perfect, no bruises, no scratches Gillian Plant, passenger In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremes Evacuee describes ordeal There was no panic at all and no injuries - everybody is perfect, no bruises, no scratches Gillian Plant, passenger In pictures: Ship rescue Lure of polar extremes Evacuee describes ordeal
A Chilean Air Force spokesman earlier told Reuters news agency there had been a delay because of the weather. US passenger Eli Charne told Reuters news agency: "I'm so relieved, I'm happy that everyone made it off the ship, because it could have been a big disaster.
"Conditions have been very bad since yesterday for this kind of air operation," he said. "It's certainly nice to be on the way home now. I'm just really glad to be around still."
The spokesman said the passengers, who were staying in Chilean and Uruguayan military bases on King George Island, were "doing very well and some of them have been in touch with their families via the internet". A Chilean air force spokesman said the tourists were "doing very well and some of them have been in touch with their families via the internet".
Graphic: Key facts about M/S ExplorerGraphic: Key facts about M/S Explorer
Some 23 Britons, 17 Dutch and 13 Americans were among those on board the ship.Some 23 Britons, 17 Dutch and 13 Americans were among those on board the ship.
There were also 10 Australians and 10 Canadians and other nationalities included Irish, Danish, Swiss, Belgian, Japanese, French, German and Chinese, said Gap Adventures, the 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, the Toronto-based tour company.
Abandon shipAbandon ship
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.
Cruise ship 'fit' Worldwide rescue hubCruise ship 'fit' Worldwide rescue hub
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.
Passenger Gillian Plant, 40, of Manchester, England, praised the ship's captain for the way the evacuation was handled.Passenger Gillian Plant, 40, of Manchester, England, praised the ship's captain for the way the evacuation was handled.
She told the BBC News website: "There was no panic at all and no injuries. Everybody is perfect, no bruises, no scratches."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 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.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!'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: "There were people suffering from hypothermia and it felt like an eternity until the boats came to the rescue."She said: "There were people suffering from hypothermia and it felt like an eternity until the boats came to the rescue."
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.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.
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.
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
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When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Name: