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107 People Stranded in Antarctica

Posted by michael on from the global-warming-needed-quickly dept.

RedArmy18 writes "A German freighter carrying 107 people became trapped when the boat got stuck in the ice. Argentina was going to launch a rescue effort but it has been caught in a dispute over the cost, the Russian govt. has also considered sending an icebreaker to free the crew."

11 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. USCG by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The USCG has 2 icebreakers, one around each pole. Where are those? or is homeland security more important then tourists?

    Also, why the HELL are there researchers there now?? Antarctic 'winter' is starting. 40 below in the day, wind, hail, it gets nasty. Tourists can only go from September to March. Anyone doing research should already be at a base, with food and supplies.

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    1. Re:USCG by Ivan+Raikov · · Score: 3, Informative

      Also, why the HELL are there researchers there now?

      A careful perusal of the article in question reveals that the ship was changing the crew at two research stations. Seems that work in these stations continues all year long.

      What I'm curious about is, why don't they send cargo airplanes to drop off packages of food (or helicopter fuel) near the ship, where they can be picked up by the crew.

      As for the Coast Guard ice breakers, the web sites of both the USCGC Healy and the USCGC Polar Star seem to suggest that these ships are operating in the Arctic this year. The web site of the USCGC Polar Sea was shut down, "due to recent events." Ah well.

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  2. The solution seems simple by Eagle7 · · Score: 2

    Germany should simply offer to pay Argentina to rescue it's citizens. And perhaps throw in some foriegn aid. I can see why Argentina would be a little hesitant, since thier economy has been tanking recently - it's hard to sell a rescue mission for 107 people from another country to your populace when your economy is in the hole.

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  3. Re:What the hell? by raduga · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Hey, I have an idea. Instead of actually saving their lives, let's just argue about it. Or maybe we'll just think about it. Actually DOING something would be a bit premature, though.

    Yeah. Saving lives *is* preferable, but keep in mind, that in Antarctic winter, conditions down south are *dangerous* for rescuer and rescuee alike.

    There are probably several available options, for the Argentines as well as for the Russians. Cost is probably one factor, as is availability of ships on-site, and the comparative cost of operations vs reliability, safety, and other cascading effects of moving these ships about. I suppose Argentina would not want the liability/embarassment if their expedition proved ineffective in getting the people out to safety. If the Russians have a ship in the region, with crew available and willing to assist, hooray for them, should they choose to step in and bail the people out. It may take a few weeks to get ships from Argentine port, or Russian cruise, so a couple days argument is probably better *now* than after they get underway.

    (less aggravating for the ships enroute, too!)

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  4. Arguing over the cost of saving lives... by gnovos · · Score: 2

    Good to know they've got thier priorities straight.

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    1. Re:Arguing over the cost of saving lives... by TulioSerpio · · Score: 3, Informative

      1. I'm not going to defend my goverment.
      2. the Argentine army will run out of money next month(in spanish)

      3. They planned a rescue mission.(in spanish) with 2 problems, money and juridiction, argentina say must be local juridiction, no international, in case of problems.

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      I'm from Argentina: Tango, Asado, Mate, Gaucho, Maradona, YPF

  5. Negra Modelo on Board? by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 2
    Argentina was going to launch a rescue effort but it has been caught in a dispute over the cost

    Yeah... Why waste something as valuable as money to save something as worthless as 107 human lives? Humans are easily replaced anyway, but money... now that is difficult to earn, especially when you're a government.

  6. Germany and Argentina? by mangu · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, didn't you hear? Argentina is *OUT*. Germany will play against the USA tomorrow morning/tonight, depending on your longitude.

  7. The Ice Master by iiii · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Reminds me of a book I just finished reading, The Ice Master. It's a great book. It is the true story of the Karluk and its crew, who, during a polar expedition, got stuck in the arctic ice in 1913. The ice they were trapped in drifted hundreds of miles, from Alaska to Siberia, so no one could find them. They were trapped with the ship for some seven months, then the ship sank and they were stranded out there on the ice. They survived on the ice for several more months, then most of them managed to get to land, and the captain trekked hundreds of miles to get to the western coast of Siberia, where he got passage to Alaska to arrange a rescue. In the end more than half of them died, and the rescue finally got to them a year and three months after they were iced in.

    Things are much better for these folks in Antarctica, of course, but if these things interest you I highly recommend the book.

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  8. South Africa Responded by gus+goose · · Score: 3, Informative
    South Africa responded as well ...

    Well, SA has the supplies, but does not have an icebreaker to get them there...

    gus

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    .. if only.
  9. antarctic explorers by g4dget · · Score: 2

    One of the great attempts at antarctic exploration was perhaps even more astounding. I think the explorers were lost for more than a year, and it took a handful of people sailing thousands (?) of miles in an open boat, then crossing a glacier on foot.