" Crew on board a Russian-flagged fishing boat which hit an iceberg in Antarctica's Ross Sea, are frantically trying to remove water from the vessel and repair a hole in its hull.
It could take several days before other boats reach the 708 deadweight-tonne Sparta, which is in distress after hitting an underwater iceberg.
The 23-year-old Sparta issued a distress call around 3am, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said.
A Hercules aircraft flew over Sparta today to assess ice conditions in the area. The ice was around 1.5 metres thick, RCCNZ said.
"Things are improving, but things are in a very serious situation," Andrey Kulish of San Diego's Sedna Industries Inc said.
Three vessels were heading toward the 23-year-old Sparta, but were having difficulty reaching it as there was heavy sea ice in the area, RCCNZ said.
Kulish believed the collision split a weld in the hull about 1.5 metres below the waterline. It had created a hole which flooded Sparta's biggest hold.
"We are using every pump we have and the water is starting to go down."
I would like to be wrong but let' have a look at Sparta
Well that does not inspire confidence.
It just gets worse. There is a review of Foreign Charter Vessels operating in New Zealand waters and the slavery that it encompasses but don't expect anything to happen, National and the Maori Party have too many ties to commercial fishing to take it seriously.
" Kulish believed the collision split a weld in the hull about 1.5 metres below the waterline. It had created a hole which flooded Sparta's biggest hold.
"We are using every pump we have and the water is starting to go down."
The crew was working to redistribute the vessel load and to repair a hole in the hull, RCCNZ said.
The 48m vessel, with 32 crew on board, had a 30cm hole in the side, 1.5 metres below the water line, RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Ramon Davis said.
The vessel was on a 13 degree lean and was still taking on water.
"So far, the crew has managed to keep up with the ingress of water. They have also attached a tarpaulin on the outside of the hull which is helping slow the rate of water into the hold." Davis said.
"If they can get all the water out of the hold that might lighten the ship enough for the hole to be above the water line, and allow the crew to repair the damage."
Good luck to them, I hope they can save the ship because it has 32 crew and about 700 tones of oil on board that will not enhance Antarctica. What the fuck was such a rust bucket doing fishing Tooth fish in the Ross Sea in the first place ?
If commercial vessels are operating in Rescue Coordination Centre NZ responsibility waters then at the very least they must meet our safe ship management rules. The foreign flag is a joke.
" A New Zealand boat, Sanford's partly ice-strengthened San Aspiring was heading toward Sparta.
Another Russian boat run by Sedna, the 24-year-old Chiyo Maru no. 3, was moving toward Sparta, but it could not go through ice.
Another Russian boat run by Sedna, the 24-year-old Chiyo Maru no. 3, was moving toward Sparta, but it could not go through ice.
RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Ramon Davis said San Aspiring was 870 kilometres from Sparta but would take four to five days to reach her.
A third vessel was 35 kilometres away, but was hemmed in by heavy ice and was unable to proceed.
A US Air Force C130 Hercules from McMurdo Sound was due over the scene this afternoon."
A US Air Force C130 Hercules from McMurdo Sound was due over the scene this afternoon."
I am not a Sanford fan but it would appear that San Aspiring is a NZ flagged ship and not a charter vessel and is fit for purpose.
What a mess. This is a direct consequence of wholesale deregulation the sort of bullshit the right wing in NZ loves. The result is FCV fishing our fish with slave labour, National and The Maori Party will scream that is the only way to make a profitable return, well fuck you both go look at Tallys.
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