MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cruise grounded in Antarctica rescued by Spanish vessel

A Malta flagged cruise vessel with 150 passengers and which grounded in Antarctica Monday night were rescued by a Spanish Navy icebreaker currently on support duty in Antarctica.

The 4.500 tons "Lyubov Orlova" was visiting Deception island in the South Shetlands when it run aground in Whalers' Bay. The captain immediately radioed for help and the distress call was picked up by "Las Palmas" anchored next to the Spanish Army base "Gabriel de Castilla".

"Las Palmas" sailed to the spot and after making an assessment of the situation waited for the high tide and begun towing activities which concluded successfully eight hours later.

"Lyubov Orlova" returned by its own means to Ushuaia and passengers were flown back to Buenos Aires.

This is not the first time the Spanish Oceanographic Research vessel has been involved in similar rescue operations: in 1989 she helped Argentine icebreaker Bahía Paraíso which was grounded in Arthur Bay in Antarctica.