Chile air force says Chinese ship in Antarctica still burns

[Judi Lynn]

Chile air force says Chinese ship in Antarctica still burns
By The Associated Press April 19, 2013

SANTIAGO, Chile - A Chilean air force plane checked on a Chinese ship that caught fire in Antarctica and confirmed Friday that the vessel is still in flames.

The Kai Xin vessel caught fire off the coast of Antarctica on Wednesday and its 97 crew members were rescued by a Norwegian ship. Then it began to drift unmanned, zigzagging dangerously close to sharp glaciers.

After being forced to cancel an earlier flight because of fog, a Chilean air force Twin Otter plane flew Friday over the Bransfield Strait in the Antarctic peninsula.

"The ship continues to burn and is drifting to the southeast sector, some 14 miles from the 'Arturo Prat' naval base," the air force said in a statement. "It is being monitored constantly by several satellite systems of the maritime search and rescue service within Chile's navy."

Capt. Juan Marcelo Villegas, maritime governor for Chile's portion of Antarctica said a Panamanian-flagged Chinese ship, Skyfrost, was travelling toward the Kai Xin to help tow it to harbour before it crashes into the glaciers and causes an oil spill.

More:
http://www.canada.com/news/Chile+force+says+Chinese+ship+Antarctica+still+burns/8268194/story.html

[pscot]

1. The Miami Herald is reporting the ship has sunk

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/22/3358679/chile-says-burned-chinese-ship.html