MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Captain Khlebnikov stranded with 105 passengers in Antarctic ice

Icebreaker Captain Khlebnikov

The Captain Khlebnikov (*) icebreaker of the Far East Shipping Company (FESCO) has stranded in the Antarctic ice.

There are 101 passengers, 23 staff and 60 crew. Nationalities include 58 Russians and 51 Britons aboard the vessel that was returning from a voyage around the continent, editor of the Maritime Bulletin Mikhail Voitenko reported on Monday with reference to sources in the South African Republic.

There is no danger to the passengers and ship.The Kapitan Khlebnikov has informally been alerted to the situation as a courtesy.

A BBC film crew working on the “Frozen Planet” film is on board the icebreaker.

The FESCO so far has not commented on the situation with the Captain Khlebnikov that has been making cruises to harsh corners of the planet for more than 10 years.

The icebreaker was built in Finland in 1981 – the vessel’s deadweight is 4,418 tonnes, length 129 metres, maximum speed – 18 knots. The Captain Khlebnikov icebreaker rebuilt for a cruise liner, has repeatedly performed voyages with tourists in the Arctic Ocean and around Antarctica. (Itar-Tass)

(*) Kapitan Khlebnikov was completed in Finland in 1981 as one of five Kapitan Sorokin class icebreakers. She was refitted in 1990 as a tour ship and was the first ship to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1996-97. She’s 122metres long and carries 112 passengers and 70 crew members.

In February 2006 the Kapitan Khlebnikov reached the Bay of Whales in the Antarctic, reaching 78° 40.871' south and equaling the record set by Roald Amundsen in the Fram in 1911.