M/S Explorer passengers and crew are rescued

G.A.P Adventures, owners of the expedition ship, the M/S Explorer, have confirmed that all 100 passengers and crew who were onboard the M/S Explorer when it hit ice in the Bransfield Strait off King George Island, Antarctica earlier today (05.24 GMT, Friday 23 November 2007) are safe and uninjured.

Standard procedures were followed by the crew with passengers calmly evacuated to the ship's life rafts and then transferred to The NordNorge which was in the area. The M/S Explorer's crew are also now on The NordNorge.

Onboard The M/S Explorer were 2 Argentines, 10 Australians, 2 Belgians, 24 British nationals, 12 Canadians, 1 Chinese national, 3 Danes, 17 Dutch, 1 French, 1 German, 2 from Hong Kong, 4 Irish, 1 Japanese, 4 Swiss, 14 Americans, 1 Colombian and 1 Swede.

The families of those passengers are now being telephoned by G.A.P Adventures to advise them of the safety of their loved ones.

Families who have questions about their relatives and friends should contact G.A.P Adventures on +1 800 465 5600 ext. 101.