RCCNZ coordinates southern ocean rescue (3)

Crew on board the Russian fishing vessel Sparta are pumping water out of its holds and will attempt to repair a hole in its hull, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) says.

Sparta issued a distress call around 3am from a position next to the Antarctic ice shelf, in the Ross Sea, about 2000 nautical miles (3704 kilometres) south east of New Zealand.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Ramon Davis said the 48m vessel, with 32 crew on board, has a 30cm hole in the side which is 1.5m below the water line. The vessel is listing 13 degrees, and is 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.

“They have asked us to supply them with more pumps to allow them to increase the pumping speed, and also provide backup to the pumps they are already working with.”

Mr Davis said RCCNZ was investigating the options of delivering pumps to the stricken vessel.

“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.”

Mr Davis said all three vessels tasked to go to Sparta’s aid were facing difficulty due to heavy sea ice in the area.

Sparta’s sister ship, Chiyo Maru no. 3, was about 290 nautical miles (NM) away and had no ice classification, meaning no capacity to cut or break through sea ice.

The New Zealand vessel San Aspiring, which has some capacity to move through ice, was also making its way towards Sparta. San Aspiring is at least four days away from Sparta.

A third vessel is only 19 NM away, but is hemmed in by heavy ice and unable to proceed towards Sparta.

Mr Davis said a Hercules aircraft from McMurdo Station had flown over Sparta and spent about an hour over the casualty earlier today.

“The aircraft made contact with Sparta as well as assessing the ice conditions in the area. Sparta is currently in an area clear of ice.

“Surrounding ice is estimated as up to 1.5m thick.”

Some of the crew had disembarked from the ship and were currently in lifeboats – not on the ice as earlier reported.

The weather in the area currently is calm and about 3 degrees Centigrade.