Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sea Shepherd Searches For Missing Yacht

Anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin is searching for a yacht in atrocious Antarctic conditions.
The EPIRB or distress beacon on 14m steel yacht Berserk, with three crew, was activated about 5pm on Tuesday from the Ross Sea - but then it stopped working overnight Tuesday.
NZ's National Rescue Co-ordination Centre centre ordered the navy's patrol ship HMNZS Wellington to Berserk's last position but found no trace of the yacht. Wellington was in the area on sea trials: it was released from the search because of deteriorating conditions but two more ships, Steve Irwin and a Russian ship Professor Khromov, have joined the search.
On its website, the Norwegian-registered Berserk is classed as an adventure sailing charter vessel which "roams the seven seas doing long-term navigation around the world." The site says the vessel is "no luxury yacht with high-tech electronics and luxurious equipment, but it is fully equipped for comfortable sailing in extreme environments".
The 6-8m swells and 110km/h winds prevent the use of an aircraft but, as soon as the storm abates, Steve Irwin's helicopter will be used in the search.
PS: 25 Feb.2011 - Steve Irwin has found a liferaft, empty of people or supplies, which appears to have come from Berserk. Its helicopter is now up and searching... note the ice on the SI, indicating the poor conditions in the search area. Hopes are fading for the missing yacht: if it has sunk, with water temperature at -12C, survival would be a few minutes.
PS: 27 Feb.2011 - Berserk sunk in hurricane-force Antarctic storm.
PS: 01 March 2011 - controversial Scandinavian adventurer Jarle Andhoy cries: "Don't blame ME!'!"

No comments: