RNZAF aircraft drops equipment to help stricken Sparta
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand has confirmed the successful drop of three pallets of equipment – including pumps, patches and other gear – by a Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules onto the ice near the stricken vessel Sparta this afternoon, the Maritime New Zealand said Tuesday.
The crew will now recover the equipment and focus on making more permanent repairs to the hole in the side of the ship.
The vessel remains on an even keel and only occasional pumping has been required to keep the vessel empty of water.
The crew of the C-130 will spend the night at McMurdo base to rest and refuel the aircraft before heading back to New Zealand tomorrow. They are expected to arrive home tomorrow evening. It is unknown at this stage what time they will arrive.
RCCNZ was still continuing to monitor the situation, including the weather conditions and the progress of various nearby vessels that have been tasked to assist.
“Currently the Norwegian vessel Seljavaer is heading away from the Sparta as it attempts to navigate a way around the heavy ice, while the Sparta’s sister ship, the Chiyo Maru no. 3, is approximately still 100nm away but it is not ice strengthened and its approach is being slowed as it navigates the ice pack.
The ice-strengthened polar research vessel Araon is en-route and estimated to arrive in the area on 26 December.”
RCCNZ launched the rescue mission after the Sparta issued a distress call around 3am last Friday (16 December) 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, has a 30cm hole in the side which is 1.5m below the water line.
Mr Dickson said weather in the area remained reasonably good, with occasional snow showers and cloud, but was forecast to worsen tomorrow.
The crew will now recover the equipment and focus on making more permanent repairs to the hole in the side of the ship.
The vessel remains on an even keel and only occasional pumping has been required to keep the vessel empty of water.
The crew of the C-130 will spend the night at McMurdo base to rest and refuel the aircraft before heading back to New Zealand tomorrow. They are expected to arrive home tomorrow evening. It is unknown at this stage what time they will arrive.
RCCNZ was still continuing to monitor the situation, including the weather conditions and the progress of various nearby vessels that have been tasked to assist.
“Currently the Norwegian vessel Seljavaer is heading away from the Sparta as it attempts to navigate a way around the heavy ice, while the Sparta’s sister ship, the Chiyo Maru no. 3, is approximately still 100nm away but it is not ice strengthened and its approach is being slowed as it navigates the ice pack.
The ice-strengthened polar research vessel Araon is en-route and estimated to arrive in the area on 26 December.”
RCCNZ launched the rescue mission after the Sparta issued a distress call around 3am last Friday (16 December) 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, has a 30cm hole in the side which is 1.5m below the water line.
Mr Dickson said weather in the area remained reasonably good, with occasional snow showers and cloud, but was forecast to worsen tomorrow.
