Sinking Cruise Ship in Antarctic Waters Abandoned by Passengers

A cruise ship carrying more than 150 passengers has been abandoned after the vessel collided with an iceberg in Antarctic waters and began taking on water.

The Explorer struck the iceberg near the South Shetland Islands around 10:00 p.m. ET on Thursday and quickly sent a distress call to the Chilean navy. The passengers were quickly transferred to a Norwegian cruise ship, MS Nord Norge, that was in the area at the time.

Striking the iceberg left a hole “the size of a fist” according to an AP report that quoted British Coast Guard spokesman Fred Caygill. The accident occurred in an area that has been claimed by the United Kingdom.

While the ship was taking on a serious amount of water and listing at about 21 degrees, England’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency has sent five ships to aid the crippled Explorer.

There were no reports of injuries to any passengers or crew on the ship.

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