MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian yacht sinks crushed by Antarctic ice close to Chilean base

“Endless Sea” surrounded by the pack of ice (Photo: Chilean Navy)

The Chilean Navy on Sunday released images of the Brazilian Yacht ‘Endless Sea’ which sank on Saturday in Antarctica. The photo shows the boat stuck in ice at Maxwell Bay, Ardley Cove, in front of the Chilean Antarctic base Presidente Eduardo Frei, reported Brazilian online media.

The four crew members of the ‘Endless Sea’ were rescued unharmed and taken to the base. The vessel is owned by journalist and former president of Radio El Dorado João Lara Mesquita who was in the region producing a documentary.

According to the Brazilian Navy, the wreck occurred, probably due to the compression of the vessel by an accumulation of ice and the 120 kilometres strong winds which impeded the vessel from moving.

Chilean and Brazilian personnel are working to impede the debris from drifting and any possible oil spill that could harm the environment.

The Chilean authorities said the four Brazilians were flown to Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile from where they are scheduled to return in a commercial flight to Brazil.

This is the latest setback suffered by Brazil in Antarctica this year. In February, one of Brazil’s two Antarctic scientific stations was largely destroyed by fire.

Station Comandante Ferraz forced the evacuation of 60 researchers and personnel. Two members of the Brazilian Navy in charge of the power plant died in the accident and a third was seriously injured.

A new base is expected to be built beginning at the end of 2013.