A New Zealand plane has successfully dropped equipment and fuel to a Russian fishing vessel stranded in heavy sea ice off Antarctica, Fairfax NZ News reported on Saturday.
The Sparta, with 32 crew on board, sent out a distress call on Thursday after it struck a submerged iceberg close to the Antarctic ice shelf.
The crew had been working overnight to stabilize the 23-year-old vessel.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules dropped three parcels containing a water pump and diesel on an ice shelf next to the ailing ship, squadron leader Andy Scott said.
The Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand (RCCNZ) said earlier the pump “will provide greater capacity to the crew.”
“Pumps aren’t designed to work 24/7, so it is important they have that security,” RCCNZ’s Chris Wilson said.
The Vladivostok firm Antei, which runs the Sparta, said earlier the crew had patched a 30-centimeter hole in the hull.
The crew were also pumping water from the hold, Antei director Andrei Polomar told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
The crew comprises 15 Russians, 16 Indonesians and a Ukrainian.
Polomar said a New Zealand ship was proceeding towards the Sparta, but was still about 150 nautical miles away.
“Later on Saturday, a Korean ice-breaker will set off towards the trawler,” he added. “It will then lead the trawler out of its ice trap.”
Two other rescue ships, the Russian-flagged Chiyo Maru No 3, and the Norwegian vessel Sel Jevaer, are having difficulties reaching the Sparta.
The Sel Jevaer is only 19 nautical miles away but is hemmed in by ice.
