MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ocean Nova passengers safely en route to Ushuaia

All 65 passengers on board M/V Ocean Nova which run aground during an Antarctic cruise were safely transferred Wednesday afternoon to M/V Clipper Adventurer, which is currently sailing for Ushuaia, Argentina, reported the Argentine Navy and operator Quark expeditions.

Later in the day and with the assistance of the evening high tide M/V Ocean Nova was dislodged and a primary inspection by Spanish divers from scientific research vessel "Hespérides" showed that no damage had been sustained during the re-floating. The inspection was videoed prior and after she became unstuck. "There has been no leaking of any kind", said a later release from Quark Expeditions. A second hull inspection will be conducted in Ushuaia on the ship's return to port. "We are grateful that no environmental damage occurred and that all travellers who were aboard Ocean Nova are safe," said Patrick Shaw, president of Quark Expeditions. If the Ushuaia inspection confirms no damages the Bahamas flagged Ocean Nova will de departing again on February 22 for a 20 day cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, said the ship's operator. Ocean Nova grounded Tuesday February at position 68° 08' S, 67°06' W, in Marguerite Bay, west of Debenham Island, approximately two kilometres from the Argentine research station San Martin. The ship is under the command of former Danish naval officer Captain Per Gravesen who worked with the Royal Greenland Trade Company as navigator, then ultimately as captain. He has almost a quarter-century of polar navigation, according to the ship's operator. M/V Ocean Nova was built in 1992 to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland. She has an ice-strengthened hull which is considered excellent for polar expeditions and has enabled the ship to park in the ice of the Weddell Sea. The ship has been part of the Quark fleet since 2006.