As a result, the Explorer rammed into that ice at too high of a speed, ripping a ten foot long gash in its hull, which explains why the ship sunk so quickly. Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. The thermal blankets were like nylon body bags and the zip was corroded on all of them. Poon Tip does not directly answer questions about the causes of the Explorer's sinking, confining his answers to the quality of the company's rescue effort. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators said its members are scrutinizing the reports findings for valuable lessons to be learned that will allow us to build on industry best practice and IAATOs commitment to safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to Antarctica.. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. ", Steve Wellmeier, executive director of the International Association of Antarctic Tourism Operators describes the report as "very sobering reading" which "represents a wake-up call for all of our members. Search for stock images, vectors and videos. The report was released as representatives of the 45 signatory nations to the Antarctica Treaty were attending their annual meeting in Baltimore where they tightened some regulations on cruise ships. Captain Bengt Wiman (Character) 2018: Advertise With Us. Subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest news, gear reviews, travel tips, and all things adventure!. Taylor Echlin, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, describes the 'frightful' sight that greeted him during the rescue of ship's passengers. Sixteen months after the accident, marine safety investigators representing Liberia, where the Explorer was registered, fixed the blame primarily on one person: Bengt Wiman, the ship's 49-year-old captain, who'd been commanding the Explorer for the first time and had participated in only one Antarctic voyage. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The investigation, details of which are revealed for the first time by The Independent on Sunday, highlights a litany of errors that might have led to the biggest shipping disaster in Antarctica. log out. "We dispute pretty much everything in the report," he says, but declines to offer his own version of events or to respond point by point to the report's findings. Parties for Paisola v. Gap Adventures Inc., 1:10-cv-08920 Brought to you by the RECAP Initiative and Free Law Project, a non-profit dedicated to creating high quality open legal information. "In all likelihood, he either would have taken action to avoid the hard ice, or manoeuvred the Explorer with greater attention to the vessel's speed," the report concludes. John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Explorer was a Liberian-registered cruise ship, the first vessel of its kind used specifically to sail the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean. The ships 91 passengers came from more than a dozen nations, including 24 Britons, 17 Dutch, 14 Americans, 12 Canadians and 10 Australians. Antarctica is emerging as one of the cruise industry's hottest destinations. 8495) 23 November 2007 in the Bransfield Strait near the South Shetland Islands", Antarctic cruise ship tourists live to tell 'Titanic 2' jokes, Ulster grandad set for home after Antarctic rescue drama, "Armada apoya labores de rescate de buque de pasajeros Explorer", "Passengers are being rescued from M/S Explorer", "Passengers unhurt after Antarctic ship hits ice", "Questions swirl around the sinking of the MS Explorer", Canadian cruise ship sinking in Antarctic, MS Explorer cruise ship passengers are safe, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MV_Explorer_(1969)&oldid=1130710147, ICE-1A (as per BNV, equals Finnish-Swedish IA), 19691972: K/S A/S Explorer & Co, Oslo, Norway, 19801982: Lindblad Swire Cruises, Panama, 19831985: Ferry Services Curacao NV, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles, 19851992: Discoverer Reederei GmbH, Germany, 19922003: Explorer Shipping, Monrovia, Liberia, This page was last edited on 31 December 2022, at 15:43. Bengt Wiman is on Facebook. Experts say that only the good fortune of unusually benign weather conditions meant no one died when the MV Explorer sank. "They are entitled to their opinions, but I am not interested in getting into an argument with a flag state.". I recommend that the Motion to Dismiss be DENIED. But he said he had a slight change of heart during the first mission, after a noncommissioned officer, who had not been informed of what the mission entailed, began to express reservations about dumping people into the ocean. Sometimes I am afraid to be alone with my thoughts. "The military first threw our children into the river alive, their feet trapped inside a bucket of cement," said Hebe de Bonafini, director of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Your session to The Christian Find the perfect wiman stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. It had been on an 18-day round trip voyage from Ushuaia for which passengers had paid up to 3,900 each. It was absolute chaos at that point. Sista sidan i kontraktet (1923). G. G.a.p. Each carries more than 3,500 passengers and crew. Only after Chilean maritime rescue control was alerted was assistance provided for the stricken vessel. PUNTA ARENAS, Chile The last group of survivors from the Antarctic cruise ship that struck an iceberg and slipped into the icy sea were flown back to the South American mainland Sunday. It was the first cruise ship to sink there when she struck an iceberg on 23 November 2007. Captain Wiman said the VDR was forgotten as the crew concentrated on evacuating passengers. A Chilean naval icebreaker that reached the scene shortly after the Explorer's passengers were rescued, concluded that the ship had not been traveling through a thin ice field, as her captain had thought, but rather an older, thicker field containing a mix of dangerous glacial ice chunks, some reportedly as large as 15 feet high with underwater rams as long as 45 feet. Also, never bet against Belichick When you are the Captain you have to know that everything is your responsibility.. She has since dropped claims against all defendants except GAP. [32], In an article published on 8 December 2007, experts consider that Explorer was "perfect for ice navigation", and stated that the explanation of the sinking "doesn't add up" and that "essential pieces of the story are missing". In his account, which was published this month in the Argentine newspaper Pagina 12, Mr. Scilingo said that he took part in two of the "death flights" in 1977 and that most other officers at the Navy School of Mechanics in Buenos Aires, where he served, were also involved in such flights. The report recommends "administrative action" be taken against Captain Wiman "in view of his lack of knowledge which contributed to the cause of the casualty". Jim Staples, a captain for 20 years, who spoke Wednesday from a 1,000-foot cargo vessel he was captaining near New Orleans, said captains are duty-bound to stay with the ship until the situation. Copyright 18/01/2023 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. It was hatched as a brain-child of Richard Barrett some two years earlier, and blue-printed between him, NozoMojo, Rinie van Meurs and ship operators Master Mariner. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. What a great multi faceted article. [18] In 1998 Explorer was the first ship to circumnavigate James Ross Island;[19] and in the same year, was claimed to be the first ship, as distinct from river boat, to sail 80 miles (130km) above Iquitos, Peru, to the point where the Maran and Ucayali rivers meet to become the Amazon River.[20]. Thu, Jan 29, 2009 Experts say another Titanic is a real and growing possibility in the unforgiving waters of the Southern Ocean. King George Island lies about 700 miles south of Cape Horn, the tip of South America, and is the largest of the South Shetland islands. Disturbingly, the report reveals that three attempts by the Explorer to contact the Argentine Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre for assistance, resulted in the captain being told to "call back". [15] After being renamed the Lindblad Explorer, the ship ran aground off Wiencke Island in the Antarctic on 25 December 1979. The vessel sank the following November while traversing sea ice off Antarctica. Anyone can read what you share. Posted by Lillian Africano | Adventure, Antarctica, Editor's Picks, Featured, Travel |. The protests are still held every Thursday. People familiar with the Antarctic tourism industry weren't surprised that a cruise ship sank there. Once in flight, they were injected with a sedative by an Argentine Navy doctor before two officers stripped them and shoved them to their deaths. Captain Bengt Wiman (make) and announcement: everybody had to abandon the ship. Indeed, some, like Carmen Herrera, who watched the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo protest on Thursday, argue that the military crackdown was justified to defeat a leftist guerrilla insurgency. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Mr. Scilingo's disclosure has reopened a bitter debate here over the so-called dirty war, in which more than 4,000 people were killed and 10,000 others disappeared during the military juntas from 1976 to 1983, according to an official Government inquiry. Directed By: Timothy Wolochatiuk Written By: Andrew Kaufman Where to watch Buy Buy Subscription Buy Cast & Crew Michael Pongracz Narrator Frances Townend Doreen Horwood Michael Murray Scratch. The sinking of the Explorer on November 23, 2007, was one of the most bewildering disasters in modern maritime history. This was Wiman's first time in the big chair, and the blame is placed squarely on his shoulders for misreading the ice. The report blames the lack of Antarctic experience of the Swedish captain, Bengt Wiman. G.A.P. Mr. Scilingo said that he began writing letters to navy officials, urging the military to disclose what happened during the dictatorship, but that their only response was to offer him money to keep silent and then to threaten to take away his military medical and social insurance. He attended the University of Illinois and the Medical School of that University, and holds the degree of Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Medicine. Has there been another shipwreck like titanic They spent most of that first night huddled in lifeboats before being picked up by a Norwegian passenger boat and taken to Chiles Eduardo Frei air base in Antarctica. Those ships require a captain and a crew, and there are only so many good, experienced, crews to go around. That December the MS Fram lost power and smashed into a glacier, forcing an abrupt return to South America. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. The important point is that something did (go wrong - edit) and nobody saw it coming. https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/s005669/3467456. The last group of survivors from the Antarctic cruise ship that struck an iceberg and sunk into the icy sea have been flown back to the PUNTA ARENAS, Chile The last group of survivors from the Antarctic cruise ship that struck an iceberg and sunk into the icy sea have been flown back to the South American mainland Sunday. Dressed in an olive Christian Dior suit, red pin-striped shirt and paisley tie, he looks like the businessman he has become, exporting products like apple cider and leather bikinis to Brazil. - Lytt til Sagan om Sdertlje - del 3 (repris) fra Mnniskor och tro direkte p mobilen din, surfetavlen eller nettleseren - ingen nedlastinger ndvendig. As water poured into the ship, passengers described how they had to wade shoeless through freezing water in the pitch black to get to safety while crewmen fought to stem the rushing water with pillows and wood. This was Wiman's first time in the big chair, and the blame is placed squarely on his shoulders for misreading the ice. E. the COVID-19 pandemic has impact Explorer was commissioned by Lars-Eric Lindblad, the Swedish-American pioneer of "exotic expedition" tours, and built in 1969 at Uudenkaupungin Telakka,[12] a shipyard in Uusikaupunki, Finland. 4 February 1900-26 December 1985, 10! Antarctica expedition: Are research and tourism a toxic mix? He estimated that the navy conducted the flights every Wednesday for two years, 1977 and 1978, and that 1,500 to 2,000 people were killed. One passenger reported sea water in their cabin at about 03:00 UTC. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. [31] Her wreck lies at 622418S 571146W / 62.404882S 57.196247W / -62.404882; -57.196247. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The Explorer, a 40-year-old, Liberian-registered vessel, sank in deep water in November 2007. "Those vessels should not come into ice infested waters at all.". Twelve years ago, the world's most renowned polar cruise ship, the MS Explorer, set out from a deep-water port in Argentina toward the icy, treacherous waters of Antarctica. Or this one: {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Jack Goodhue reminds readers of the value experience brings in the workplace. Mr. Scilingo's disclosure has reopened a bitter debate here over the so-called dirty war, in which more than 4,000 people were killed and 10,000 others disappeared during the military juntas from . Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. The bitter irony that Richard had to cancel his own participation last minute was a hard pill to swallow. Thunbolaget. Like recreational captains that claim they have been boating all their life, 60 years say. "Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement.". The lifeboats were deplorable there was no organisation at all. Mr. Poon Tip says that Liberia's investigators had "come to these outrageous conclusions" without ever speaking with anyone in his company. Our work isn't possible without your support. [8] Explorer was confirmed by the Chilean Navy to have sunk at an approximate position of 6224S 5716W / 62.400S 57.267W / -62.400; -57.267, between the South Shetlands and Grahams Land in the Bransfield Strait;[9] where the depth is roughly 600m.[10] The Royal Navy Antarctic Patrol Ship Endurance, whilst carrying out a hydrographic survey for the British Antarctic Survey and at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, later pinpointed Explorer's final resting place as 622417.57S 571146.49W / 62.4048806S 57.1962472W / -62.4048806; -57.1962472, at an approximate depth of 1,130m a distance of 4,373m from her reported sinking position. A Chilean air force plane flew the ships first 77 survivors back from the King George Island air base, 660 miles south of this remote tip of South America, on Saturday. At about 3 a.m., Captain Bengt Wiman gave the order to abandon ship. Posted by Lillian Africano | Adventure, Antarctica, Editor's Picks, Featured, Travel | After a lifetime of travel that had taken me all the continents of the world, there are a few. The Christian Science Monitor has expired. re: 16 MOTION to Dismiss filed by V. Ships Leisure, V. Group, Gap Adventures Inc., Bengt Wiman, V. Ships Ship Management. Its 1969 expeditionary cruise to Antarctica was the forerunner for today's sea-based tourism in that region. D. D/S Norden A/S Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S Dorado Tankers Pool, Inc. E. Efnav Co., Ltd. Eitzen Bulk A/S. There, he confirmed the identity of Captain America in his timeline: Roberta Mendez. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos Many Argentines, especially those whose relatives or friends were not killed or tortured during the dictatorship, say it is futile to continue to nurture old hostilities from the dirty war. The Explorer sank in 3,300 feet of water in an area about 40 nautical miles from Chiles Presidente Eduardo Frei air force base. Designed and Developed by Ogrelogic. The Explorer's captain, Bengt Wiman, walked past shouting journalists and gave a thumbs-up sign to crowds who welcomed the plane. unless you renew or Real news, real hope. should reassess its procedures for abandoning ship. [29] They drifted for 5 hours until they were picked up by the Norwegian ship MS Nordnorge, which arrived on scene at approximately 10:00 UTC.[19][30]. Sealing bulkhead doors, pumps, even dragging mattresses or blankets below the water line and let them get sucked into the breaches. Crew attempted to staunch the inflow of freezing cold water with pillows and wood as passengers waded to safety and the lifeboats. I don't repent because I am convinced that I was acting under orders and that we were fighting a war.". It criticises him for entering the ice field in darkness and for failing to slow the ship as it approached and then hit the "wall of ice". All of those rescued by Nordnorge were taken to the Chilean Frei Montalva Station on King George Island, from where they were subsequently airlifted by C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Chilean Air Force to Punta Arenas, Chile,[19] in two separate flights; one on Saturday 24 November and the other on Sunday 25 November. Ett halvt sekel har gtt sen de frsta kristna frn Mellanstern kom till Sverige - vilka frgor r centrala i Sdertlje idag? "Everybody is congratulating Liberia for what is a most thorough report, but if the ship's owners had released this information right away, we could have gotten to work on addressing this 18 months ago. Cruise travel illustration or 360 image, Antarctica, Editor 's Picks,,... 3,900 each come into ice infested waters at all. `` the sinking of Swedish. 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