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Shipwreck in Antarctica

A supposedly polar-rated cruise ship hit some ice, sustained a "fist-sized hole" took on water and sank. No fatalities but how this could happen is beyond imagination. From This Is London:

'Titanic' terror of Britons saved in Antarctic rescue after cruise ship struck iceberg
Scores of frightened passengers shivered in lifeboats for two hours yesterday after their cruise ship was holed by ice off the Antarctic and started sinking.

Twenty-four Britons were among those forced to abandon ship in temperatures of -5c.

Surrounded by Titanic-style images � jagged blocks of ice lapped by icy waters and the listing vessel containing their belongings � they huddled together for warmth.

The 85 passengers were halfway through a �5,600 19-day Antarctic holiday on the 2,400-ton Explorer when it was hit by a block of ice, believed to have broken from an iceberg.

The vessel is built to withstand the impact of floating ice but somehow a fist-sized hole opened up and at 5.24am an emergency call was put out and the captain decided to abandon her.

Leaving all belongings behind, the passengers put on lifejackets and windcheaters and were directed into eight lifeboats and four liferafts which were then lowered slowly over the sides.

Everyone survived but still... My Mom, Dad and I were on this same ship about fifteen years ago. It was being run by Lindblad at the time and the cruise was near the American and French stations. A wonderful time and an amazing part of this planet. Here is Gap Adventure's page for their ship - a sad end to a wonderful vessel. Posted by DaveH at November 24, 2007 11:11 AM