Russian icebreaker remains stuck in Antarctica
BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 17 -- The Russian icebreaker Captain Khlebnikov remained stuck in the ices near the South Pole on Tuesday with almost 200 people on board.
The Russian flagged icebreaker cruise ship Kapitan Khlebnikov is seen from the air near Antarctica in this undated photo released November 16, 2009 by the travel company Quark Expeditions, which organised the trip.
The icebreaker, which was en route to a sight-seeing tour to see Emperor Penguins in Antarctica, was stuck 20 km south of the Argentine Marambio Base and 2800 km from the South Pole.
Rodolfo Berazay, chief of a naval force of the Argentine Army, said the 88 crew members and 105 passengers aboard were in good health and were conducting extra tourism.
The vessel became stuck when it ran into a large ice mass, which has slowed its return to port, the company operating the vessel said. The tour company offers a two-week trip aboard Captain Khlebnikov to see Emperor Penguins in Antarctica.
"We have been monitoring the vessel since two days ago; it is not in danger, and it has not requested any kind of help," Berazay told local radio stations.
"The last information we got was that tomorrow, Wednesday noon, the vessel will arrive in Ushuaia Port. We have to check the weather conditions, but we expect this will not last more than 48 hours," Berazay added.
The Russian flagged icebreaker cruise ship Kapitan Khlebnikov is seen near Antarctica in this undated photo released November 16, 2009 by the travel company Quark Expeditions, which organised the trip.
The Russian flagged icebreaker cruise ship Kapitan Khlebnikov is seen near Antarctica in this undated photo released November 16, 2009 by the travel company Quark Expeditions, which organised the trip.
(Reuters)
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