MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Rescued Chilean factory vessel arrives in Punta Areas

Tug <i>El Calafate</i> <br>Photo: Chilean Navy

Pulled by a high seas tug the Chilean flagged fishing vessel, stranded close to Antarctic waters for several days, finally arrived late Saturday to the city of Punta Arenas, from where she regularly operates.

Chile's Third Naval Zone command in the extreme south of the country reported Saturday that the factory vessel "Antarctic Bay", CB-9738 which had suffered a failed engine last Wednesday and was adrift 200 miles south west of Punta Arenas in the Pacific had been successfully contacted by the tug "El Calafate"on Friday and the pulling operation had begun. "Atlantic Bay"which is owned by "Antarctic Sea Fisheries S.A." has a crew of 35 and all arrived safe and sound to Punta Arenas where they were received by cheering relatives and friends During the whole operation a Chilean naval aircraft regularly over flew the area to report on weather and sea conditions and the advance of the disabled vessel. El Calafate and AntarcticBay advanced at five knots per hour.