Antarctic incident M/V Ushuaia

M/V Ushuaia latest news from IAATO

IAATO Update, December 4, 2008 0600 GMT 1
IAATO Update issued at 2000 UTC regarding
Incident involving the M/V Ushuaia
December 4, 2008

Incident Details:

Vessel: MV Ushuaia
Date: 04 December, 2008
Location: 64º35.5S 062 º25`W
Time: 1300UTC / 1000 Local Time

On 04 December, 2008, MV Ushuaia grounded at position 64º35.5S 062 º25`W, at the entrance of Wilhelmina Bay, near Cape Anna. An initial assessment of damage indicated that while there was no imminent danger and no threat to life, it would be precautionary to transfer passengers to another vessel before trying to refloat the MV Ushuaia. Captain Jorge Aldegheri of the MV
Ushuaia contacted the closest vessel, MV Antarctic Dream, which was 7NM away to come to their assistance. The relevant Marine Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCCs) were also duly informed: MRCC Ushuaia (Argentina) is coordinating with MRCC Punta Arenas (Chile).

Currently the situation remains stable. The Antarctic Dream is standing by at the site ready to assist if conditions change and other passenger vessels in the area including National Geographic Explorer, Grigory Mikheev, Professor Multanovskiy, Ocean Nova, Polar Star and
Polar Pioneer are all in contact with the MV Ushuaia and ready to assist if required. The Chilean Naval vessel Achiles and Chilean Naval Tug Lautaro are en route to the scene to offer further assistance. The current intention is for the passengers of the MV Ushuaia to board the Chilean Naval vessel Achiles tomorrow morning to start their repatriation.

Onboard MV Ushuaia are:
82 passengers and 40 crew, including ship?s staff, comprising: Belgian 1, British 7, Irish 2, German 9, French 2, Italian 3, Swiss 5, USA 12, New Zealand 1, Australian 11, Chinese 6, Dutch 14, Spanish 6, Canadian 2, Cyprus 1.

Nationalities staff and crew: Argentinean 28, Uruguayan 3, Spanish 1, Chilean 8

Weather conditions at the site are currently W/SW 20-25 knots, expected to continue WSW 15-20
knots, locally variable.

Possible Environmental Impacts
Two diesel tanks were punctured and/or damaged (tank Nr.4 port side, and Nr.5 center), and spilled MGO. This is very light oil which is prone to dispersing easily and quickly. The total quantity in both tanks are Nr.4 port side = 18 m3, Nr.5 centre = 27m3. It is understood that only a small amount of leakage has taken place before the flooding seawater sealed the tank. An oil spill barrier has been deployed. It is expected that the wind conditions will help disperse what oil spilled minimising any environmental impact. The Argentine aircraft P-3B Orion will over fly the site at 2000UTC to evaluate the oil spill.

The closest wildlife colonies are a small chinstrap penguin colony (estimated 25 breeding pairs)
located 6.6NM NE from the site on Delaite Island and a colony of approximately 66 pairs of blue eyed shags in Anna Cove, 0.5 NM SW of the site. The passenger vessels in the area will keep a watch over these two sites.

Once action has been taken to re-float the vessel, all IAATO vessels passing the area 64º35.5S 062 º25`W will be requested to monitor and report any pollution in the area and adjacent sites.

This request will remain in place for the duration of the season.

Contact Information:

Antarpply Expeditions
www.antarpply.com
(Ushuaia, Argentina, Time Zone: GMT -3).

Antarpply Expeditions
Gobernador Paz 633, 1 piso
9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Telephone: +54-2901-433636
Fax: +54-2901-437728

Ute Hohn-Bowen
Mobile: +54-9-2901-616194

Captain Gustavo Martinez, President
Mobile: +54-9-2901-616193

info@antarpply.com

Antarpply Expeditions has been an IAATO Member since 2005. Their vessel, the M/V Ushuaia began offering tourist trips in Antarctica in 2002. Captain Jorge Aldegheri has worked for the past 6 Antarctic seasons as Master of the MV Ushuaia.

Antarpply Expeditions is permitted to travel to Antarctica by the Argentine Government, through Dirección Nacional del Antártico, Cerrito 1248 C1010AAZ, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

Antarpply Expeditions and M/V Ushuaia Statistics
Capacity: 84 passengers, 38 crew, 6 expedition staff
Length: 84.73 meters
Width: 15.5 meters
Draft: 4.89 meters
Gross Tons: 2923
Ice Class rating: ICE4, IRS Notation
Registry (flag state): Panama
Classification Society: International Register of Shipping
Year Built: 1970, for National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Owners: The Ushuaia Adventure Corporation

About IAATO
Contact Information:
Steve Wellmeier, IAATO Executive Director
179 Wayland Ave.
Providence, RI, 02906 USA
Phone: +1-401-272-2152

IAATO is a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. IAATO currently has 106 members. IAATO Members work together to develop, adopt and implement operational IAATO Update, December 4, 2008 0600 GMTstandards that mitigate potential environmental impacts. Numerous guidelines have been adopted over the last 18 years that have proven to be successful methods in avoiding such impacts. These include but are not limited to: site specific guidelines, site selection criteria, passenger to staff ratios, limiting numbers of passengers ashore, boot washing guidelines and the prevention of the transmission of alien organisms, wilderness etiquette, garbage policy, ship scheduling and vessel communication procedures, emergency medical evacuation procedures, emergency contingency plans, reporting procedures, marine wildlife watching guidelines, station visitation policies and more.

In addition IAATO members agreed several years ago regarding an emergency contingency plan to ensure safety of passengers and crew. These procedures were followed during this incident.

For Tourism Trends and Company Information, see:

ATCM XXXI IP85 Overview of Tourism http://www.iaato.org/info.html

Tourism Statistics: http://www.iaato.org/tourism_stats.html

IAATO will continue to work closely with Antarpply Expeditions, the relevant MRCCs and all vessels to monitor the situation.