DATE: 17 December 2011 TIME: 8am
RCCNZ coordinates southern ocean rescue (4)

A Royal New Zealand Defence Force (RNZDF) C130 Hercules will set off later this morning for the southern ocean to drop equipment and fuel to the stricken Russian fishing boat Sparta, which suffered damage in the Ross Sea yesterday.

The stranded Sparta
PHOTO CREDIT: US Airforce
Crew on board Sparta have worked overnight to stabilise the vessel, and have made good progress, 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.

The 48m vessel, with 32 crew on board, had hit ice underwater and put a 30cm hole in the hull, 1.5m below the water line. It was taking on water and listing 13 degrees.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Chris Wilson said crew had been pumping water from the hold overnight and moving cargo around the boat to stabilise it.

“They’ve made good progress – the vessel is certainly in a safer position than it was yesterday,” Ms Wilson said.

“The crew which left the vessel yesterday as a precautionary measure are now back on board, which is good. With Sparta now more stable, the vessel is the safest place for them.”

Ms Wilson said the crew were also working on patches which they will attach to the hole in the hull if they can lighten the vessel enough to correct the list.

The crew face several days wait for rescue, as three ships making their way towards Sparta are being severely hampered by heavy sea ice.

Ms Wilson said weather permitting, the RNZDF would set off from Christchurch late morning, taking another pump, pipes and fuel to Sparta. It would take at least seven hours to reach the vessel.

After performing the equipment drop, it would go to McMurdo Station to refuel before beginning the journey home.

“The second pump will provide greater capacity to the crew and will also provide back up in the event one of Sparta’s pumps fail. Pumps aren’t designed to work 24/7, so it is important they have that security.”

Ms Wilson said the three rescue vessels - the Russian-flagged Chiyo Maru no. 3, New Zealand-flagged San Aspiring, and the Norwegian vessel Sel Jevaer were all still days away from reaching Sparta.


Norwegian vessel Sel Jevaer
PHOTO CREDIT: US Airforce

The first two vessels were hundreds of nautical miles away and having to navigate a circuitous route through the ice to reach the casualty. Sel Jevaer was only 19 nautical miles away, but was hemmed in by ice.

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

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