FED: Research vessel remains stranded in Antarctic ice

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-1998
FED: Research vessel remains stranded in Antarctic ice

HOBART, Dec 4 AAP - The Australian Antarctic research ship Aurora Australis remained
stranded in pack ice today, with experts unlikely to decide until next week whether it
can return home under its own steam.

Australian Antarctic Division director Tony Press said today that even if emergency repairs
could be carried out on the crafts propeller, special arrangements would have to be made to
replace 20 expeditioners on Casey station.

The icebreaker's propeller broke down early this week, leaving it in pack ice about
75 nautical miles off Davis Station.

The weather is reasonable and Dr Press said the 69 expeditioners and 24 crew were
in no danger.

He said as engineers continued to work on the problem, the division and the ship's owners,
P&O, were examining options.

The Aurora might be able to return to Hobart alone, it might need an escort, or
it might have to be towed.

However, it would not be able to complete its program, Dr Press said.

He said expeditioners could be changed over on Davis and Mawson through the two helicopters
the Aurora carries.

But Casey was beyond their range, and the relief for there would probably be flown
into Davis, where they'd wait until the next voyage.

AAP dw/was

KEYWORD: AURORA (CARRIED EARLIER)

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