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| The Russian fishing boat Sparta, near the Antarctic ice shelf (AFP/USAF/File) |
WELLINGTON— A stricken Russian fishing vessel stranded in icy Antarctic waters was in a"precarious position" Sunday, New Zealand rescuers said two daysafter the vessel was holed by an iceberg.
The crew ofthe Sparta had a scare overnight when temporary patches placed over the damagedsection of hull failed and the boat began taking on water again.
But severalhours later they reported they again had the situation under control.
TheRussian-flagged Sparta, with a crew of 32, sent out a distress call earlyFriday from near the Antarctic ice shelf when it was holed 1.5 metres below thewater line and started to list.
It will beseveral days before rescue ships can make their way through heavy sea ice toreach the vessel about 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometres) southeast of NewZealand.
However, aNew Zealand Air Force Hercules was able to fly over the Sparta late Saturdayand drop off extra pumping equipment and fuel.
"Spartaremained in a precarious position," New Zealand search and rescuecoordinator Dave Wilson said.
"Thishighlights the importance of the mission in delivering the pumping equipmentyesterday.
This equipment has enabled them to get on top of the water ingressagain, and they will now be working to fix the patches more securely."
Wilson saidwith rescue still days away, the stabilisation work was vital for the vesseland its crew.
"Theyhave life rafts but with the conditions down there, it?s much safer for them ifthey can wait for rescue on board their vessel."
Twovessels, the Sel Jevaer and Chiyo Maru No 3 were struggling to navigate acircuitous route through the ice and would take several days to reach Sparta?sposition.
A SouthKorean icebreaker, Araon, which was docked in New Zealand, has beencommissioned by the Sparta's owners to assist. It set sail early Sunday andwill take eight days to reach the area.
A NewZealand fishing boat, San Aspiring, was pulled from the rescue operation onSaturday after advising conditions were too difficult for it to proceed.
"SanAspiring was 470 nautical miles away from Sparta but would have had to travelmuch further than that to reach the vessel, because there was no direct linethrough the ice," Wilson said.
"Theyconfirmed the journey would take too long and would potentially put their owncrew in danger."
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| SouthKorean icebreaker Araon, left, approaches the Russian ship Sparta which hasbeen trapped due to an accident, in the Antarctic on Sunday. (EPA Photo) |
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