By Calvin Palmer
All the passengers aboard the cruise ship that ran aground yesterday close to the Argentine research base at San Martin, Antarctica, have been safely transferred to another vessel.
The 65 passengers, including 21 Americans and 17 Britons, are safely aboard the Ocean Nova’s sister ship, Clipper Adventurer.
The Argentine navy said the operation was carried out using semi-rigid boats.
Tour company Quark Expeditions, of Norwalk, Connecticut, said the Ocean Nova was still aground and awaiting this evening’s high tide in an attempt to refloat the ship.
Continuing high winds thwarted last night’s attempt to refloat the 240-foot Danish-built vessel, was on the eighth day of a two-week expedition that embarked from from Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city.
A preliminary inspection by divers from the Spanish naval vessel Hespérides has found no visible damage or leaks.
Quark Expeditions anticipates there will be no negative impact on the environment due to this incident, the company said.
Another inspection by divers will be conducted once Ocean Nova is afloat. After that inspection, the vessel will return to Ushuaia.
[Based on a report by the Brisbane Times.]
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