Efforts to rescue the crew from the stricken Russian fishing vessel Sparta have been hampered by icy conditions in the southern ocean.
The 48m vessel, with 32 crew on board, issued a distress call around 3am on Friday after hitting ice. The incident caused a 30cm hole in the hull, 1.5m below the water line. The boat was taking on water and listing 13 degrees.
Yesterday, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C130 Hercules dropped extra pumping equipment and fuel to the vessel, after a seven-hour flight from Christchurch.
The Hercules was returning today and due back in New Zealand tonight.However the crew on board Sparta have requested more equipment to help repair the damage to the boat’s hull.
Sparta is stranded next to the Antarctic ice shelf, about 2000 nautical miles (3704 kilometres) south east of New Zealand.
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) tasked three nearby vessels to assist Sparta, but all three have been hampered by heavy sea ice.
én asszem nem lennék (jó) hajós.
én asszem nem lennék (jó) orosz.
én asszem nem lennék (jó) klímafirkász. nem olvadt már el vagy százszor ez a jég?
