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Explorer - being evacuated

soraya

By soraya,
in Antarctica

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PennyAgain

PennyAgain

Posted
Posted
I used to work for the Explorer many years ago. A&K used to own the ship, and sold her around 2000, because the "Old Lady" was getting, well, tired...

There were some concerns about hull integrity at the time, but I am still surprised to hear that a bit of ice broke her hull, after all it was steel plate inches thick (at least on the bow...)

 

According to their plan the ship was arriving to the Peninsula after a visit to the Falklands and South Georgia that started in Ushuaia November 11.

 

There is also a growing concern among the staff that operates in Antarctica about the increased ship traffic in the area, as well as the fact that they are extending the season by starting cruises earlier and finishing later...

When I started working on Expedition Ships in 1993 nobody would think of starting a cruise so early in November...

 

I don't to think much about it, but I am devasted. She was not the prettiest ship around, but she was certainly part of cruising history.:(

 

I really enjoyed being on your ship. I went on an A & K trip from Dundee Scotland to and around Iceland and back to Dundee. The people were wonderful and the food was extremely good.

 

We had rough sea conditions, but the Explorer handled them very nicely. I spent many hours watching the sea as we had the Midnight Sun. Memories that will last me a lifetime.

 

She will be missed!

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Tia Serena

Tia Serena

Posted
Posted
I really enjoyed being on your ship. I went on an A & K trip from Dundee Scotland to and around Iceland and back to Dundee. The people were wonderful and the food was extremely good.

 

We had rough sea conditions, but the Explorer handled them very nicely. I spent many hours watching the sea as we had the Midnight Sun. Memories that will last me a lifetime.

 

She will be missed!

 

She is certainly a nice little ship, and there are many who hold her dear because of her groundbreaking exploits.

I am holding up to hope, still...

The Chilean news say they are dispatching an Ice Breaker to the site...

There has been no more news on the last couple of hours...

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Tarheelbelle

Tarheelbelle

Posted
Posted

It is interesting how quickly she was surrounded by brash ice; earlier photos on the ABC website show open water except for the iceberg beside her.

 

I recently finished reading Endurance, Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing as part of my study in preparation for my trip in January. Now reading about this incident has helped me to think more mindfully about being prepared for the unexpected on my upcoming cruise and to increase my respect for the power of nature!

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c-to-sea

c-to-sea

Posted
Posted

I just posted this on another site - hope it copies here.

 

Here are some maps showing where this is taking place. Haven't found an

actual position report - this is as close as I have come -

 

"It ran into trouble approximately 120km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula."

 

The first map shows the general area. The tip of the Antarctic Peninsula

is at the bottom where the red square with 'F' is. King George Island is

shown as I. 25 de Mayo in box 'A'.

 

81psuav.jpg

 

The second shows King George Island (I. de 25 Mayo) in more detail.

There are a number of research stations there and an airstrip. Frei

appears to be near the Southwest tip on Peninsula Fildes.

 

81qcns6.jpg

_________________

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Tia Serena

Tia Serena

Posted
Posted

The Chilean Navy reports that the ship sank at 15:50 at latitude 57º 15’ south y longitude 062º 24´west.

 

http://www.terra.cl/noticias/index.cfm?id_cat=302&id_reg=883232&pagina=2

 

They also inform that the passengers are already safe, lodging at the Chilean base Eduardo Frei and the Uruguayan station Artigas. They are lodging at the Gym, and similar public rooms. They must await for the decision of GAP as to what means will be used for the evacuation - air or water. Almost everybody seems to assume the passengers will be flown over, but the Chilean Navy makes it a point to say they have not received instruction about that. On the other hand, the weather is such that air evacuation is not possible today, and probably not tomorrow either.:(

 

Their report includes photos of passengers arriving at Frei...

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Tarheelbelle

Tarheelbelle

Posted
Posted
The Chilean Navy reports that the ship sank at 15:50 at latitude 57º 15’ south y longitude 062º 24´west.

 

http://www.terra.cl/noticias/index.cfm?id_cat=302&id_reg=883232&pagina=2

 

They also inform that the passengers are already safe, lodging at the Chilean base Eduardo Frei and the Uruguayan station Artigas. They are lodging at the Gym, and similar public rooms. They must await for the decision of GAP as to what means will be used for the evacuation - air or water. Almost everybody seems to assume the passengers will be flown over, but the Chilean Navy makes it a point to say they have not received instruction about that. On the other hand, the weather is such that air evacuation is not possible today, and probably not tomorrow either.:(

 

Their report includes photos of passengers arriving at Frei...

The 2 photo galleries linked on page 1 of this story are very informative! Thanks for posting!

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Tia Serena

Tia Serena

Posted
Posted

New photos from the Chilean news site show the passengers boarding the Hercules plane at Base Frei. Most of the passengers are already in Punta Arenas. Two staff escorted the group, comprised of 77 passengers. 11 passengers and the crew are still at Frei waiting for another window of good weather for the plane to come back and pick them up.

 

http://www.terra.cl/noticias/index.cfm?id_cat=302&id_reg=883611

 

The first reports from passengers are comming.

BBC has an interview with a Brittish passenger, and also with the Expedition Leader, Brad Rees.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7111080.stm

 

No mention of the name of the Captain anywhere, I wonder if it's on purpose.

The chilean coast guard reported "major damage" to the hull, but on the pictures of the ship on it's side, all I could see are the scruff marks of where the Zodiac Platform rubbed the paint. Did anybody report on which side was the breach?

 

Well, I imagine that now that most passengers are back to "civilization", we will be getting more reports from eyewitness.

 

I am impressed with the effectiveness of the Chilean Navy, and the solicitude of the Chilean President, who autorized the regional office to help the survivors in any way necessary, including monetary.

 

The ordeal is comming to an end, but I hope that we may finally hear the tale from those who experienced it!

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Tia Serena

Tia Serena

Posted
Posted

P.S.

I have been chocked by how the news casters seem to be trying to make this into a catastrophe. Headings like "voyage of a lifetime turns into cruise from hell". The insistence the the temperature were -5C, etc.

On the BBC interview, the reporter kept asking, "so, were you very scarred", "was there anybody in panic", despite the fact that the passenger kept repeating that nobody was in panic, the evacuation happened in order and calm, nobody was shivering, because they not only had warm clothes of their own, but were wrapped in protective jackets, the captain was excellent, they were kept well informed at all times, even in the lifeboats, the Chileans were effective and friendly...

 

It's almost as if the news people are disappointed this didn't turn into a major disaster...

 

This is bothering me a lot!

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skibozo

skibozo

Posted
Posted
It is a shame and the end of a wonderful adventure. I agree though that this is an honorable way for her to end her career, rather than being salvaged.

 

The ship-breaking yards of Alang, India are polluted, dangerous to underpaid workers, and probably not an honorable end of her career.

 

BUT, it would have been a lot better than what happened. Ship is recycled and gainful employment of said underpaid workers.

 

Instead of sinking and polluting one of the last pristine places on this earth.

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Tia Serena

Tia Serena

Posted
Posted
Tia --

News Reporters are the same the whole world over:(

 

Thank you for your timely reports.:)

 

Isn't it too true???

 

Some nice news, though. The last passengers arrived in Punta Arenas today. The chilean site has photos of the disembarcation, and a tv clip too.

 

http://www.terra.cl/noticias/index.cfm?id_cat=302&id_reg=883783

 

According to the Chilean Navy the fuel that leaked is being dispersed by the waves and wind - more good news. In their estimate there has been no significant contamination.

 

ABC news published an account by Jon Bowermaster, National Geographic Reporter that was on board the Endeavor, the first ship to arrive at the scene, that seems to be reasonably level headed.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3905858&page=1

 

But the link that says "more photos" still has the same photos...

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morrfran

morrfran

Posted
Posted

How sad to see her on her side amid all the brash ice. It certainly must have been more than a fist-sized hole.

 

I have the utmost respect for ships' officers, seamen, expedition staff and zodiac drivers who work in that part of the world. I've been on 5 different trips to the area, always on the Marco Polo. I was also on board in '04 when she scraped an iceberg. No damage below but there was some damage above -- broken/missing rails, broken windows. We were underway again in about 1-1/2 hours. This happened in the Antarctic Strait on our way to Hope Bay.

 

Since I first saw the news I've often thought about the passengers being in open lifeboats for 3-6? (reports vary) hours. It would have been dark when they went into the lifeboats--we're still 3-4 weeks away from the time when it remains at least dusky 24 hours in that part of the world--tourists aren't allowed that close to the actual southernmost parts of the coast.

 

I hope we do learn more at some point about what the true damage was, and exactly what caused it--I'm sure the Explorer's been in ice a lot of times without a problem.

 

Too true about news folks--even the way they deliver news is in an over-hyped breathless way...

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roberts2005

roberts2005

Posted
Posted

The attached photo was taken at 2:30 AM from the front of the Ocean Nova, in the Branfield Straight on its way to Primavera Station on the Antarctic Mainland

 

http://ras2007photos.smugmug.com/photos/224608216-S.jpg

 

 

 

I was awakened by the ship's thumping through the ice and stayed awake until our landing. The second picture is the sunrise later that morning.

 

http://ras2007photos.smugmug.com/photos/224634543-S.jpg

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2552phxcrzr

2552phxcrzr

Posted
Posted

The links still don't work, but if you copy and paste the link into the URL address box of the browser and then enter, they become visible. Not sure what the problem is when they are within the thread.

 

Great photos. Looking forward to more when your online albums are ready.

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