Lindblad Explorer hauled off rocks

Press, 29 December 1979, Page 3

Lindblad Explorer hauled off rocks

NZPA Punta Arenas, Chile The Swedish cruise ship Lindblad Explorer, which 1 ran aground on Monday in the Antarctic, was hauled [off undersea rocks yesterday [with the aid of a Soviet tug, [the Chilean Navy said. ! Eighty passengers and 32 . crewmen were transferred , on Tuesday to the Chilean i icebreaker Piloto Pardo after . the Lindblad Explorer ran aground off Graham Land. i No injuries were reported. A skeleton crew of 21 I men remained aboard the [Lindblad Explorer to handle salvage attempts.

The Piloto Pardo, which ■ ’.remained with the stricken; ‘[cruise ship until Wednesday ‘night, was expected to ar--I:rive at Punta Arenas in the ; ’ I Strait of Magellan tomor- ” row. 1 2 A Navy spokesman at ! j Punta Arenas, who asked [ n not to be identified, said thej, r Soviet tug Uragan helped l< •j pull the Lindblad Explorer I [ off the rocks. [ ( The report was confirmed! 1 by Captain Alajandro Arm-L e strong, of the Navy Public.' e Relations staff, at Santiago. I< who said the cruise ship!;

was towed to a sheltered bay for preliminary repairs. Captain Armstrong said the ship had eight punctures in her double hull, but that the flooding was controlled and the ship was in no danger of sinking. The ship had: partial use of her engines. I l The Lindblad Explorer was towed to Bransfield Strait where there were [many protected bays, said [Captain Armstrong. I He said the Norwegian tug (Atlantic Greet was on her way to the Lindblad Explorer and would give whatever • aid was necessary.