Source: Xinhua

12-08-2008 09:05

SANTIAGO, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The 33 crew members and 89 passengers abroad the cruise liner Ushuaia stranded in Antarctica were rescued Friday by the Chilean navy.

The rescuers used the boats on the cruise ship to take all the passengers and crew members to the Chilean navy vessel Aquiles.

A cruise ship with 33 crew members and 89 passengers is stranded in Antarctica on Dec. 4. The cruise liner was rescued Friday by the  Chilean navy. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

"The Aquiles is sailing with all the passengers to the Chilean Crei Base," which is located 350 km from the accident place, the Argentine navy said in a statement.

Aquiles is expected to arrive the Chilean base early Saturday, where the passengers will be taken by a Hercules C-130 plane of the Argentine Air Force to the Port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina.

The cruise ship has a Panamanian flag but is owned by an Argentine company. It sent out alarms midday Thursday after it started leaking fuel and taking in water.

A rock damaged the hull as the Ushuaia passed through the Gerlache Strait, about 300 km from Argentine base Maramnio and 1,300 km south of Ushuaia.

The crash left the boat adrift in Guillermina Bay, northwest of Antarctic Peninsula.

Aboard the ship there were 14 Danish, 12 Americans, 11 Australians, nine Germans, seven Argentines, seven British, six Chinese, six Spaniards, five Swiss, three Italians, three French, two Canadians, two Irish, a Belgian and a passenger from New Zealand. All of them were in "perfect" conditions, rescuers said.

The cruise ship, built in 1970, operates from the Port of Ushuaia, transporting passengers to Antarctica and islands in the waters of the South Atlantic.

 

Editor:Yang Jie