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Crew of stricken Russian fishing ship on lifeboats Stricken Russian ship's crew await New Zealand air drop
(about 14 hours later)
A Russian fishing boat in trouble in icy Antarctic waters has dispatched some crew onto lifeboats "as a precaution", rescue officials say. A New Zealand plane is heading to the location of a Russian fishing boat in trouble in icy Antarctic waters to drop equipment and fuel.
The Sparta is holed beneath the waterline and stuck in heavy sea ice, about 2,000 nautical miles (3,704km) south-east of New Zealand. The Sparta is holed beneath the waterline and stuck in heavy sea ice.
A number of ships are on their way to assist the vessel but the nearest could take days to reach it. The C130 Hercules, from the Royal New Zealand Defence Force, will take seven hours to reach the stricken ship, which is about 2,000 nautical miles (3,700km) south-east of New Zealand.
A military plane spent about an hour above the stricken ship earlier. Some of the crew who had boarded lifeboats are now back on board.
The C-130 Hercules plane "made contact with Sparta as well as assessing the ice conditions in the area", said Ramon Davis of the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) href="http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111216d.asp" >in a news release. href="http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111217a.asp" >The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said in a statement that the crew had worked overnight to stabilise the Sparta.
But he earlier warned the plane would not be able to rescue the crew, saying the best option remained sending another vessel to their aid. Chris Wilson, from the RCCNZ, said crew had been pumping water from the hold and moving cargo around the boat.
He added the 32-strong crew had immersion suits which would help them survive if they were forced to abandon ship. "They've made good progress - the vessel is certainly in a safer position than it was yesterday," she said. "With Sparta now more stable, the vessel is the safest place for them."
After dropping a pump, pipes and fuel to the Sparta the New Zealand plane will have to refuel at the US McMurdo Station before returning to Christchurch.
A number of ships are on their way to assist the vessel but all are days away and being hampered by heavy sea ice.
Cargo overboardCargo overboard
The first distress call from the Sparta was picked up at about 0300 New Zealand time on Friday (Thursday 1400 GMT), when it was confirmed the ship east of the Ross Sea and taking on water.The first distress call from the Sparta was picked up at about 0300 New Zealand time on Friday (Thursday 1400 GMT), when it was confirmed the ship east of the Ross Sea and taking on water.
It has a 30cm (1-ft) hole in the hull beneath the water line and is said to be listing at an angle of 13 degrees. It has a 30cm (1ft) hole in the hull beneath the water line and was listing at an angle of 13 degrees and taking on water, according to the RCCNZ.
The crew comprise 15 Russians (including the captain), 16 Indonesians and a Ukrainian, AFP news agency reported. They were throwing cargo overboard to lighten the ship, and some had boarded lifeboats as a precaution, the RCCNZ said. The crew comprise 15 Russians (including the captain), 16 Indonesians and a Ukrainian.
Remaining crew are pumping water out of the ship and had attached a tarpaulin over the outside of the hole in an attempt to keep the water out, it said. They had requested that additional pumps be sent to help. There are no helicopters in the area and rescue authorities say the best option is for another vessel to come to the Sparta's aid.
There are no helicopters in the area and rescue authorities say the best option is for another vessel to come to Sparta's aid.
But all three tasked with assisting are facing difficulties reaching the ship, said RCCNZ:But all three tasked with assisting are facing difficulties reaching the ship, said RCCNZ:
  • Sparta's sister ship, Chiyo Maru no. 3, is about 290 nautical miles away and does not have ice-cutting capability
  • The New Zealand vessel San Aspiring, which has some capacity to move through ice, is making its way towards Sparta but is at least four days away
  • A third vessel is only 19 nautical miles away, but is hemmed in by heavy ice and unable to proceed towards Sparta.
  • The Sparta's sister ship, Chiyo Maru No 3, is about 290 nautical miles away and does not have ice-cutting capability
  • The New Zealand vessel San Aspiring, which has some capacity to move through ice, is making its way towards the Sparta but is at least four days away
  • A third vessel is only 19 nautical miles away, but is hemmed in by heavy ice and unable to proceed towards the Sparta.
The ice surrounding the ship is estimated to be up to 1.5m thick, it said.The ice surrounding the ship is estimated to be up to 1.5m thick, it said.
But weather conditions are currently good, calm and about 3C (37F).But weather conditions are currently good, calm and about 3C (37F).