MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

All luxury cruise ship suffers accident in Antarctic Peninsula

Clelia II has been withdrawn from service during January for repairs

One of the most elegant expedition vessels operating in Antarctica, the Clelia II, has been withdrawn from service during January for repairs following an accident that occurred over Christmas week but is only now coming to light.

New York-based Travel Dynamics International, which operates the 100-passenger vessel, has cancelled the ship's voyages through Jan. 18 following the incident, which left one of the ship's propellers damaged.

In a statement released this week, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators says that on December 26 the five-deck ship had arrived at Petermann Island, Penola Strait in the Antarctica Peninsula for a passenger landing when a stronger-than-anticipated current pushed it toward the rocky shoreline.

According to IAATO efforts by the officer of the watch to correct the situation failed, and the starboard propeller struck some rocks. The impact resulted in the shutdown of the starboard engine and the loss of electrical power aboard ship. The port engine, which remained operational throughout the incident, was used to drive Clelia II off the rocks to a position approximately one mile from shore, where the port engine was turned off for a full systems check.

Clelia II’s captain immediately notified the nearest IAATO ship – Corinthian II, a sister

ship to Clelia II under charter to Travel Dynamics International. Corinthian II was at Pleneau Island just eight nautical miles to the north and arrived on scene within an hour.

With the vessel stabilized, the bridge officers instructed the expedition staff to continue with the passenger landing. Using power from the back-up generator, 53 passengers were landed.

When Corinthian II arrived, a stern line was attached to the bow of Clelia II, and a full systems check was undertaken. By 18:00, an hour and a half after striking the rocks, the port engine was restarted and confirmed to be fully operational. Normal electrical power was restored. The line to Corinthian II was released.

Passengers from the landing began to re-embark Clelia II at 18:15. At 19:30, all passengers were aboard and it was decided that Clelia II would proceed north with Corinthian II as an escort on the return to Ushuaia.

Aboard the Clelia II were 65 passengers and staff, and 65 officers and crew. At no time during this incident was there a threat to human life; passengers and crew were never in danger.

At the moment of impact to the starboard propeller, a trace amount of lubricating oil from the drive shaft leaked into the water. The vessel’s Zodiac drivers kept watch as the oil dissipated quickly. There was no other threat to the environment.

Both vessels arrived back in Ushuaia, Argentina, on Wednesday morning, December 30. To ensure that the Clelia II was fit for continued service, the decision was made to cancel the subsequent sailing, scheduled for December 29, 2009 – January 8, 2010, and Clelia II proceeded to Punta Arenas for work on the damaged propeller.

A second expedition, January 8 – 18 has also been cancelled.

Specially refitted and re-launched in 2009 for Antarctica and Arctic expeditions, the all-suite luxury ship Clelia II was extensively refurbished, redecorated and otherwise improved to offer the finest in small-ship cruise travel.

The yacht-like, ice-strengthened expedition ship with a gross tonnage of 4.077 accommodates only 100 guests in 50 suites. Each suite provides ocean views, measures 215 square feet or more, and includes a sitting area or separate living room, twin or queen-size beds, spacious closets, air conditioning