HMS Protector rescues cruise liner at risk of becoming trapped in Antarctica ice
A Norwegian cruise liner at risk of becoming trapped in thick ice off the coast of Antarctica was guided to safety by the Royal Navy in a two-hour operation, an incident which occurred a week ago and has only emerged.
Ice breaker HMS Protector broke through the densely packed ice which had surrounded the MV Fram, blocking her path and trapping the bow, as she carried passengers through the Antarctic Sound.
The cruise vessel with 202 passengers had been following the patrol ship through the gaps in the pack ice when she was surrounded by a number of fast moving floes. HMS Protector immediately turned back to help, approaching the Fram from astern and breaking up the ice – which was up to four metres thick. Taking just over two hours at speeds of just two knots, the Fram was eventually released and led to safety.
Commanding Officer of HMS Protector, Captain Peter Sparkes, said: “This is what we do in the Ice Patrol Ship, we are the Royal Navy’s equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife – red, versatile and always there when you need us.
“Protector’s ship’s company are highly trained and well equipped to deal with a spectrum of operations in Antarctica. That we are able to do so, so readily, is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy’s global reach and operational preparedness.”
Sub Lieutenant Rowland Stacey of the Royal Canadian Navy, currently on exchange with Royal Navy and serving with HMS Protector, said: “This was an extremely impressive feat - operations in ice can be very challenging, but HMS Protector made it look easy. I am delighted to be a part of this team.”
Ice conditions in Antarctica are extremely variable and subject to the vagaries of the continent’s wind and local currents. Ships can quickly become beset when the concentration of pack ice increases, which is often very quick. Once they are trapped, ships may have to wait for days, or even weeks, to escape.
Cruise company Hurtigruten released the following statement: ”On 13-14 January, Hurtigurten's ship MS Fram had decided not to sail to one of its landing points of Brown Bluff in Antarctica as the ice conditions in the area that day were challenging. However, our reports state that HMS Protector was sailing in the area and they offered assistance to MS Fram so that the ship could sail to Brown Bluff. The ship was therefore escorted in and out of Brown Bluff by HMS Protector. This was a friendly gesture between two ships who are all part of the same ‘family' when sailing in the remote areas of Antarctica”
MS Fram is a specially-built polar expedition ship with an ice-strengthened hull. The ship was on its 6th annual 66-day tour to Antarctica, where it spends each (boreal) winter.
HMS Protector is continuing with her patrol of the British Antarctic Territory, supporting an embarked International inspection team’s surveys of environmentally sensitive sites around the Peninsula.
The ship, which serves as the UK’s Sovereign presence in Antarctica, will complete three further five-week patrols of the continent before heading north at the beginning of April and the onset of the Austral Winter. (MOD News/MP)
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Can you imagine AR doing this? Have they got ANY ships that float and can go onto the high seas and back again without needing a tow?
LOLs
No wait, they've already tried that stunt!
This proves the value of the Royal Navy Antarctic Patrol. Without HMS Protector MS Fram would have been trapped for months and become a major rescue incident.
Instead, no drama, just a perfect rescue. All in a days work for Team RN.
I think the majority of Hurtigruten's Antarctic cruises already do (apart from the straight there and straight back ones)
won't be long now.
The whole world knows that this is a lie. The spy ship
Protector was rescued from its despicable spying activities on Argentina Antarctica by the cruise ship and was illegally militarising the Argentinian Ocean. We demand that we have a 100% Argentinian nuclear weapons program .
Just thought I would save the Argie posters the trouble. !
Ya stupid Fcuk, - argentina is suffering right now because of your moronic 'rivero' (the murderer) law.
The Falkland Islands are now moving on to OIL.
Read it and weep argentina. Read it and Weep.
most cruises come from the north, sail south, then back north.
s.america is a key product for the liners.
argentina has plenty of business/diplomatic ties in mercosur's s.a
no arg + no chile/uruguay = no business
no falklands = no great loss
shareholders like certainty.
no need to have built those new houses.
Chile and Uruguay are increasing their tourist trade thanks to Argentine rules and harassment and if you've been reading the news an increasing number of cruise liners are preferencing the peaceful Falkland Island's vs the violent Argentine groups.
And if that wasn't enough, the UK is a massively stronger force in every measure of the word VS Argentina and can apply its own subtle pressure to manage the outcome of the situation.
To quote you -' no falklands = no great loss'
Then why are you on here vomiting your shite?
Cnuts like you need to be held accountable in the future, when your country is begging the FIG to put some business their way.
Why are you so desperate to usurp the Falkland Islands?
flingpeshabootyerselyargfud!
“Protector’s ship’s company are highly trained and well equipped to deal with a spectrum of operations in Antarctica. That we are able to do so, so readily, is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy’s global reach and operational preparedness.”
Argentina's 'global' reach is inside their own territorial waters for fear of having their vessels impounded. That is, of course, if any of their naval vessels are actually sea worthy.
Well done Protector! :)
One major line has already cancelled ALL 3 Arg ports off both its cruises this summer but includes Ur-Falklands and Chile.
3 others have cancelled several Arg port calls.
2 lines have formally warned Buenos Aires that they will NOT use Buenos Aires as a cruise turn around port for their vessels in 2013-14 unless harrassment cease.
P.Madryn has ONE species of Penguin - in a day tour here a tourist can see FOUR species as well as Elephant seals, freshwater birds, and relax in a crime free English speaking environment where we do not even expect to get tipped all the time.
One ship your Govt threatened earlier has cut out one Arg port and now spends up to a 13hr day in Stanley insread of 8hrs before.
especially not when theres a trade bloc involved.
easier to lose the islands, which have no real u.s.p anyway.
sorry but the islands get dropped at the next a.g.m .
how would you vote.
Why the F are you lot so obsessed with our Islands?
Oh yes I remember you're argentinian!
The Islands are building their own deep water port. They're not reliant on Argentina, and Chile, Uruguay and Brazil are all happy to trade with the islands, and also to accept any tourists that will no longer be calling in BA and other places.
Argentina is one country that is its own worst enemy. Argentina is NOT South America, and DOESN'T speak for South America.
No travel company in the world is going to risk their passengers getting hurt by the La Campora fascists, while the Argentine authorities look on and do nothing. These companies would be leaving themselves open to law suits if any passengers got hurt.
So it's easier to avoid the trouble, and Chile, Uruguay and the Falklands will all benefit from Argentina cutting off its nose to spite it's face.
So I would vote to avoid Argentina like the plague, and save myself the risk of lawsuits.
That would increase my profits, wouldn't it?
You are a perfect example of the problem Argentina has: an inflated opinion of its position in the world.
With a huge population and vast natural resources, you should be able to get very rich and hold influence on the global stage...but you don't.
Why? Because you make sub-standard products (even food!!!!!) and put protectionist measures in place. This means the rest world knows life goes on without you, while your neighbours have to make the best of a bad situation.
your prince declarations today: “prince harry compares war to play station, and taliban are not amused” , hmmmmmmmm
Maximo Kirchner The Obese Son Of SS Hitler Kirchner Works Hard thieving from his country just like his mother
NOW WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BE MORE PROUD OF????
Q - If your vessel got into difficulties in the South Atlantic, would you want the Argentine navy coming to your rescue, or the Royal Navy? I rest my case.
the article is in The New York Times as written and also in all the media of the world
I prefer arg helicopters for rescue
Really, it seems your head of state prefers British private jets and crew paid for upfront in Sterling :-)
Its 8F outside my house tonight, could use a little help up here in NY tonight myself, hope my pipes don't freeze!
And just how can your helicoptors break ice and rescue a ship?
How can your helicoptors fly that far without stopping to refuel?
How can your helicoptors fly with no maintenance and no spare parts to fix them?
How can your helicoptors leave Argentina without being impounded because you don't pay your debts?
Does Argentina even have a ice-breaker that is sea worthy?
Face it, Argentina wouldn't have been able to help this cruise liner, they would still be stuck in the ice with the passengers and crew at serious risk.
The RN responded to this emergency quickly, professionally and with humility.
By the way, poor attempt to divert the thread.
You see? the Royal Navy is the world's emergency service. It's great to see them doing their job with no fuss. It fills you with relief that everyone on board is safe and pride that the job was so well done.
Now you see what can great job they are doing can we please, please, please have more ships for them?
Anybody got the ARA's website?
Meanwhile the Argentines spend their time flying pregnant women onto some ice-shelf, and stand gloating over the tank and weapons that they've smuggled into the Antarctic zone. They're just utterly worthless AND useless in one moustachioed hairy package.
think we can trust this scource?
www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/war/45m-death-machine-used-for-killing-people-2013012256904?utm_campaign=23012013&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=
Jan 23rd, 2013 - 01:09 pm
PMSL!!!!!!
Like when the Belgranos supporting destroyers fled back to port as soon as she was hit
Any examples?
All I know of is that you were throwing your own people with a couple of French nuns from military aircraft,hardly saving life my friend
Congratulations for posting the most stupid comment that we've seen in quite a while on this forum.
You sound like a jealous teenager! LMFAO
It looks like you need stronger meds sweetheart, or you could try upping your dosage...........
@8 And NO visits to argie ports by P&O vessels. How many other cruise companies will they persuade to follow their lead. Just imagine how many cruise lines will be thinking “We don't want our ships the subject of ”protests. We don't want to see our customers caught up in riots, robberies, rape, murder. Far better to be able to rely on the Royal Navy and a safe, friendly British port.“ Guess what happens next? You're right. The liners call at Uruguay, then the Falklands, then Chile. Fun. And so much safer!
@14 If you had any, we'd do without your half-a-dozen pesos!
@19 You missed a bit. It's actually ”prince harry compares war and argies to play station, and taliban are not amused”. I can understand that. Who'd want to be compared to argies? Surrender monkeys, the lot of them. Emphasis on “monkeys”.
@22 Never seen an argie helicopter in the air. Do they use a springboard or get dropped out of another one?
@27 OUR prince is worthy of media attention. He's brave, he's courageous, he's capable, he's a good shot. Especially the last one. Want to meet him? And what's The Slug good for? A door stop?
@35 When? Nuns don't count. And, anyway, they died. The “missing” don't count either. Same reason. I can think of 323 lives no argie bothered rescuing. We have to admit that a number of British ships were sunk during the Falklands War. How many people died as a result? A MAXIMUM of 131. And when you're counting the number of vessels the Royal Navy lost (6), you should remember that you lost 7! Belgrano, Isla de los Estados, Montsunen, Narwhal, Rio Iguaza, Rio Carcarana, Santa Fe. Doesn't matter where you look. At war or peace. Brits (including Falklanders) outclass argies. And always will!
uuuuujajaja....he is a war criminal..... and an indecent man.....don't you remember the UK newspapers pictures of Naked Harry in Las Vegas?
uuuujajaja....not to smart!.....
You're right, it is a terrible thing, I don't want to be ruled by someone that can't play billiards. (Borrowed from John Bishop :)-)
“I prefer arg helicopters for rescue”
Your presidente prefers to travel in a Canadian jet (Canada supports the right of the Falkland Islands to self-determination), owned by a British company (Britain supports the right of the Falkland Islands to self-determination).
She clearly has no confidence in her own country.
If she is really serious about Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, why did she not fly in a Syrian jet, or borrow one off Chavez?
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