Stricken Russian ship ‘stabilized’

The crew of a Russian fishing vessel stuck in heavy ice off Antarctica have stabilized the boat, as a New Zealand plane is on its way to deliver life-saving supplies. The Sparta sent out a distress call on Thursday after it struck a submerged iceberg close to the Antarctic ice shelf. The 23-year-old vessel reported a hole in its hull beneath the water line. The crew have patched the 30-centimeter hole and pumped the water from the vessel, Andrei Polomar, the director of the Vladivostok firm Antei, which runs the Sparta, told RIA Novosti on Saturday. “The situation on the vessel has stabilized,” Polomar said. Some of 32-strong the crew, made up of 15 Russians, 16 Indonesians and a Ukrainian, boarded lifeboats on Friday but are now back on board. The Royal New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules is expected to reach the location of the stricken ship within two hours to drop pumping equipment and fuel. The Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand (RCCNZ) said in a statement the vessel was now “in a safer position than it was yesterday.” “The crew which left the vessel yesterday as a precautionary measure are now back on board, which is good. With the Sparta now more stable, the vessel is the safest place for them.” Chris Wilson from the RCCNZ said. “A New Zealand ship, which is about 150 nautical miles away, is proceeding towards the Sparta and is expected to reach it within the next 24 hours,” Polomar went on. “Later on Saturday, a Korean ice-breaker will set off towards the trawler. It will lead the trawler out of its ice trap.” Two other vessels, the Russian-flagged Chiyo Maru No 3, and the Norwegian vessel Sel Jevaer are both having difficulties reaching the Sparta. The Chiyo Maru No 3 is still days away and has no ice-breaking capability, while the Sel Jevaer is only 19 nautical miles away but is hemmed in by ice.