A ship from Quark Expeditions, the Ocean Nova ran around in Antarctica yesterday.
incident Involving M/V Ocean Nova
February 17, 2009
Marguerite Bay, Antarctica
68° 08’ S, 67° 06’ W. Incident Details
Vessel: M/V Ocean Nova
Date: February 17, 2009
Location: 68° 08’ S, 67°06’ W
Time: 04:30 UTC / 01:30 Local Time
On February 17, 2009, M/V Ocean Nova grounded at position 68° 08’ S, 67°06’ W, in Marguerite Bay, west of Debenham Island, approximately two kilometers from the Argentine research station San Martin. An initial assessment of damage indicated that there was no imminent danger and no threat to lives. There is no sign of leakage of any kind from the vessel. No environmental damage is anticipated. As a precaution, Captain Per Gravesen, of M/V Ocean Nova issued a distress signal, which was recognized by the Argentine emergency services.
Currently the situation remains stable and passengers are enjoying the regularly scheduled lecture program. The next high tide will be at 16:00 UTC / 13:00 Local Time at which time we expect to be dislodged. Three vessels are en route to assist if required. As of 13:26 UTC /10:26 Local Time, Hespedrides (a Spanish naval vessel) was 4 hours out; Castillo (an Argentine hydrographic vessel) was 12 hours out, and Clipper Adventurer, one of Quark’s fleet in the vicinity, was on stand-by. Onboard M/V Ocean Nova are:
65 passengers and 41 crew, including ship’s staff comprising: 21 Americans, 8 Canadians, 7 Australians, 4 Germans, 5 Irish, 5 South Africans, 2 Argentinians, 17 Britons, 3 Dutch, 1 Swiss, 3 New Zealanders, 3 Danish, including the Captain, 18 Filipino, 1 Romanian, 2 Ukrainians, 1 Panamanian, 1 Guatemalan, 1 Colombian, 1 Russian, 1 Indonesian, 1 Honduran Weather conditions at the site are currently:
40-50 knot winds, moderating in the afternoon, becoming southerly.
Update on the Incident Involving M/V Ocean Nova
February 17, 2009
Marguerite Bay, Antarctica
68° 08’ S, 67° 06’ W. Incident Details
Vessel: M/V Ocean Nova
Date: February 17, 2009
Location: 68° 08’ S, 67°06’ W
Time: 04:30 UTC / 01:30 Local Time
Due to unfavorable weather conditions, Captain Per Gravesen was not able to dislodge M/V Ocean Nova at 16:00 UTC / 13:00 Local Time. The next high tide will occur at midnight local time (03:00 UTC), when a second attempt will be made. Also, the Spanish naval vessel Hespedrides will be alongside at that time to assist, if necessary. All guests, staff, crew and officers remain safe.
As a contingency, M/V Clipper Adventurer, a Quark vessel, is steaming toward M/V Ocean Nova. Should M/V Ocean Nova not dislodge with the tide, all passengers aboard will be transferred to this vessel for the return to Ushuaia. Patrick Shaw, president of Quark Expeditions said “the safety and comfort of our guests are forefront in all our decisions.” Captain Per Gravesen
Former Danish naval officer, Captain Per Gravesen worked with the Royal Greenland Trade Company as navigator, then ultimately as captain. He brings almost a quarter-century of polar navigation to M/V Ocean Nova. M/V Ocean Nova
This ship was built in 1992 to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland. The Ocean Nova's ice-strengthened hull is excellent for Quark’s polar expeditions and has enabled the ship to park in the ice of the Weddell Sea. The ship has been part of the Quark fleet since 2006. It has 37 outside cabins, with private facilities. Registry is Bahamas.
It appears that there is a bit of new information there:
We're going to take all the passengers off to be extra safe," Shaw said.
The Chilean and Argentine navy have dispatched the Spanish-flagged ship Hesperides and another vessel, the Clipper Adventure, to co-ordinate retrieval of the passengers.
This is the latest update which I found at the Quark Expeditions web site.
UPDATE 4: February 18, 2009 at 09:00 EST
February 17, 2009
Marguerite Bay, Antarctica
68° 08’ S, 67° 06’ W. Incident Details
Vessel: M/V Ocean Nova
Date: February 17, 2009
Location: 68° 08’ S, 67°06’ W
Time: 04:30 UTC / 01:30 Local Time
Continuing high winds thwarted the attempt to dislodge M/V Ocean Nova made at midnight local time (03:00 UTC). Another attempt will be made at the next high tide, which is noon local time (15:00 UTC). All aboard continue to be safe and there is still no sign of leakage of any kind. Quark does not anticipate any environmental impact.
Patrick Shaw, president of Quark Expeditions, said, “The experience of Captain Per Gravesen and his crew and the special construction of the vessel, which was built for polar waters, have played a significant role in ensuring the safety of our guests during this incident.”
Guests aboard communicated with distant family members, before enjoying a good night’s sleep. They await the imminent arrival of Quark’s M/V Clipper Adventurer. If Ocean Nova is not dislodged at the noon high tide, then all passengers will be transferred to Clipper Adventurer for the return to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, point of origin for the 15-day voyage of Ocean Nova.
The Spanish naval vessel Hespérides continues to wait nearby to assist, if necessary. Spanish divers will inspect the hull of M/V Ocean Nova, when the ship is clear of the rocks.
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