Chilean Navy rescues passengers on cruise ship stranded in Antarctica

PUNTA ARENAS.- The Chilean navy ship "Aquiles" was called upon to rescue 126 people this morning from the Argentine cruise ship "Ushuaia". The vessel became marooned on rocks yesterday on the Arowski peninsula in Antarctica.

The rescue of the passengers and crew began at 5:15 this morning in the strait of Gerlache, opposite Brabante Island, more than 120 miles south of the Chilean naval base Presidente Frei Montalva.

According to navy sources, once all of the people had been transferred from the ship to motorboats, an operation which took about an hour and a half, the "Aquiles" proceeded to transport them to safety at the Presidente Frei naval base.

Nobody who had been aboard the "Ushuaia" was injured. The vessel remains stranded on the rocks tilted to a 5 degree angle on its left side.

The Argentine navy has indicated in a communiqué that "the weather forecast is suitable. The 'Aquiles' is sailing with 100% of the passengers towards the (Chilean) Frei Base, which has a landing strip".

The memo also stated that the "Aquiles" is expected to arrive at the Chilean naval base early Saturday morning, at which point the passengers will be transported by airplane to the Argentine port.