RCCNZ coordinates southern ocean rescue (9)

21 December 2011 - 10.00AM

A Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) aircraft carrying pumps, patches and other equipment is now on its way to help the crew of the stricken vessel Sparta in the Ross Sea.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) search and rescue mission coordinator John Dickson said the aircraft had departed Christchurch today at 9.00am and was estimated to arrive at the Sparta’s position about 4.00pm today (NZDT).

The aircraft crew would then undertake trial runs before dropping the equipment onto the ice next to the stricken vessel.

Mr Dickson said the vessel was now back on an even keel and the crew only needed to resume pumping occasionally to keep ahead of the water ingress.

RCCNZ was still continuing to monitor the situation, including the weather conditions and the progress of various nearby vessels that have been tasked to assist.

“Currently the Norwegian vessel Seljavaer is heading away from the Sparta as it attempts to navigate a way around the heavy ice, while the Sparta’s sister ship, the Chiyo Maru no. 3, is approximately still 100nm away but it is not ice strengthened and its approach is being slowed as it navigates the ice pack.

The ice-strengthened polar research vessel Araon is en-route and estimated to arrive in the area on 26 December.”

RCCNZ launched the rescue mission after the Sparta issued a distress call around 3am last Friday (16 December) from a position next to the Antarctic ice shelf, in the Ross Sea, about 2000 nautical miles (3704 kilometres) south east of New Zealand.

The 48m vessel, with 32 crew on board, has a 30cm hole in the side which is 1.5m below the water line.

Mr Dickson said weather in the area remained reasonably good, with occasional snow showers and cloud, but was forecast to worsen tomorrow.