Canadian cruise ship struck submerged ice off Antarctica

Questions were being asked tonight about the seaworthiness of a cruise liner that had to be evacuated as it began to sink after hitting an iceberg in the Antarctic Ocean.
Two inspections earlier this year found 11 deficiencies with the ship, called the M/S Explorer, which is sinking near the South Shetland Islands, south of Argentina.

All 154 passengers and crew abandoned the 2,400-tonne vessel, which is listing 30 degrees to starboard, and were transferred to a rescue vessel, the Nord Norge, via life rafts.

One maritime expert said the incident raised concerns about the growing trend to run cruises "in increasingly exotic and remote locations, often in inherently dangerous conditions".
"There are many questions about the suitability of some ships to operate in such potentially adverse conditions, often well away from adequate search-and-rescue cover," said Mark Dickinson, assistant general secretary of the maritime union Nautilus UK.

Although all the crew and passengers were evacuated safely, Dickinson raised concern that the ship had old-style open lifeboats despite sailing in Antarctic waters.


full article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2215950,00.html

I was hoping that it was one of Mr. Martin's Canada Steamship Lines gems...then again, I don't think any of his ships are actually registered in Canada...

NOT.

They were every Canadian's talking points, and every Canadian's business. $36 million is a pretty large "clerical error," especially when it is Canadians' money. Business is business, corruption is corruption, no matter the Party affiliation.

"Companies were excluded, whole departments were excluded, port authorities were excluded, the very place where one would expect a shipping magnate to deal with the government." - Jack Layton (2004)

I am, have always been, and will forever remain, a Dipper. Yes, I'm PROUD of it.

Didn't like Cretin, didn't like Fartin, didn't like Bulroney, don't like SHarpster.

Does my affinity and support for Dennis Kucinich make a lttle more sense now?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2333030
I wondered about the age of the ship in those perilous waters.

Amazing how much she's moved

ship photo at the link shows it floating in nearly ice free seas.

Msongs

Pictures taken at different times.

You could puncture up to four compartments and still safely sail.

opinions on this story, but I don't see any in the news stories. I bet this will cause some changes in procedure. It seems to me a ship should not be out there unless it can handle the unexpected.