Antarctic cruise ship remains stranded

Reuters

ICY RECEPTION: The cruise ship Ushuaia has run aground in the Antarctic with 122 passengers and crew aboard.

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Chilean naval crews are waiting for the high tide on Monday to try to free a cruise ship, with a New Zealander aboard, stranded in Antarctica, after the first attempt to refloat the vessel was unsuccessful.

Attempts on Sunday to free the MV Ushuaia, which is stuck on the rock, tilted to one side and leaking fuel, proved to be more difficult than first thought.

Eleven Australians and a New Zealander were among 122 people o n board the ship who had to be evacuated to Argentina after the vessel was damaged when it hit a rock on Thursday.

US-based International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators executive director, Steve Wellmeier, said a Chilean naval tug had inspected the vessel, and sent divers to establish the extent of the damage.

"The propellers and rudders remain undamaged," he said in a statement on Monday.

"It is understood that only a small amount of leakage has taken place before the flooding seawater sealed the tank.

"An oil spill barrier has been deployed and. . . the wind continues to disperse the oil in the direction away from the two closest wildlife sites and towards more open water."

The ship was due to arrive in Argentina on Monday local time, so the passengers will either be heading home or continuing with their travel plans.

"Those passengers. . . gave their thanks for everyone involved in their safe repatriation," Mr Wellmeier said.

- AAP