Agulhas frees 21 from trapped Antarctic ship

By Brendan Boyle

Rescuers took advantage of moderate weather on Thursday to evacuate 21 Russian scientists trapped deep in the Antarctic and said an icebreaker on the way should be able to free their ship.

Tanya Hacker of the Cape Town-based Dutch salvage company Smit Marine said two helicopters (SAAF Oryx's) had flown from the heated deck of the South African research ship Agulhas as soon as the wind moderated to 12 knots. "Both helicopters are back on the ship. They have managed to get 21 people off and to deliver more than 300kg of food to the others still waiting on board," she said. 

The German-owned Magdalena Oldendorff was caught in a bay behind thick ice on June 11 and has remained moored to the ice about 500 metres from the ice shelf with supplies running uncomfortably low for the 107 Russian scientists and crew on board. Hacker said the two South African Oryx helicopters would try on Friday to make two flights each, bringing about 40 more men off the trapped supply ship. "They will be flying on the edge. They will have to turn around very quickly, then refuel and go straight back again," she said.

Vasily Kaliazin of the Antarctic Logistics Centre in Cape Town said Russian expedition leader Slava Martjanov had told him by radio the crew were greatly relieved. "There has been a change in their lives. Something is starting to happen and everything is going according to plan so they are happy," Kaliazin said. He said an ice pilot had flown on the second helicopter and had reported that the ice blocking the ship's escape was only four nautical miles across and about 70 to 80cm thick. "We will get his full report later, but from what he says it should be straightforward for the icebreaker to get them out," he said.

The Argentine navy icebreaker Almirante Irizar, which is tougher and more powerful than both the Magdalena Oldendorff and the Agulhas, is on the way from Buenos Aires and should reach the area on July 7. Kaliazin said most of the 28 crew would stay aboard, with one possibly being evacuated to the Agulhas for a checkup by the ship's doctor.

South African Air Force helicopter commander Mac McCarthy said in Cape Town the comfortable range for the helicopters would be 150 nautical miles each way, with maximum safe flying time being the six hours between the first and last glimmers of light. In fact, the red-hulled Agulhas has not been able to get closer than 190 nautical miles to the Magdalena and the flying time of three hours 20 minutes means the helicopters will have to leave and return in the dark on Friday.

Hacker said weather forecasters were predicting the two-day window of moderate weather, with temperatures already minus 15°C, would close on Saturday. "The ice will begin to thicken quickly and the Agulhas will have to pull back out of flying range to wait for another lull," she said.

The South African Department of Environmental Affairs said the first relief flight carried yeast and flour, cigarettes, coffee and 90kg of sugar to meet the most urgent needs. The second flight carried camembert cheese, German sausages, potatoes and oranges to liven up the diet of the men who will stay aboard.

IOL