Passengers To Be Evacuated From Damaged Cruise Ship

Eighty passengers onboard the Polar Star, an Antarctic Expedition cruise ship, will now be evacuated from the damaged ship.

The Polar Star hit an uncharted rock while attempting to anchor just north of Detaille Island at the Antarctic Peninsula, on Monday. Initial inspection of the hull revealed a breach to the outer hull, but no damage to the inner hull. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators said in a statement that the ship received permission from its classification society and its flag state to depart its location and proceed north to its homeport in Ushuaia, Argentina.

The ship stopped at Arctowski Station, a Polish research facility on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, for further inspection before making the voyage through the volatile Drake Passage.

On Wednesday divers form the station thoroughly inspected the hull. Following the inspection and a discussion with the ships’ classification society, DNV, a decision was made to evacuate passengers before travelling through the passage.

The eighty passengers will be transferred onto other cruise vessels making the voyage to Ushuaia. The Polar Star will undergo temporary repairs before proceeding to Ushuaia with its 35 officers and crew.

The Polar Star was originally scheduled to return to its homeport on February 6. The ship’s owner has cancelled the next Antarctica cruise, scheduled to depart February 6.
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Photo courtesy of Polar Star Expeditions