Sparta and Araon: icebreaker helping pump out

A South Korean polar research ship on December 26 reached Sparta, a leaking Russian fishing vessel that has been stuck in the frigid waters off Antarctica for the past 10 days. The crews are trying to pump fuel out of the damaged boat so that the leak may be welded shut.

RV Araon: Korean icebreaker on rescue of Sparta

A South Korean icebreaker berthed in New Zealand set sail last Saturday night and is due to reach the troubled Russian-flagged Sparta in Antarctic ice on Sunday afternoon,
The Sparta’s owners have chartered the RV Araon, a South Korean icebreaker, to aid the stricken ship
The RV Araon is a 6,950-ton icebreaker operated by the Government of South Korea, designed for operation in one-meter-thick-multiple-year ice condition (KR PL-10) with 3 knot speed per hour and will be equipped with twin Azimuth propulsion units driven by diesel-electric propulsion plant. She will accommodate up to 85 persons, including 25 crew members. The name is derived from Korean words “Ara” for Sea and “On” for All and represents a project to cruise around the world. She supplies the King Sejong Station and will supply a South Korea’s second planned antartcic research station. She underwent her sea trials in January 2010, in the Ross Sea.

Sparta: supplies dropped, patched

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The 48-metre (157ft) long Sparta is licensed to catch toothfish in the Southern Ocean. Russian fishing vessel Sparta is seen listing in waters in the Ross Sea near Antarctica on Dec. 16, 2011. The fishing vessel with 32 crew members were taking on water near Antarctica on Friday. Heavy sea ice was hampering rescue efforts, and officials said it could be four or five days before anybody reaches the ship to try to rescue the crew. Dec.17

8809361 SPARTA UIBS Fishing Ship 371 1988