The MV Explorer is no more.
It hit an iceberg.
Water got into it and it slowly sank.
Thankfully, all the 150-odd passengers and all the crew were able to evacuate the ship and get into lifeboats. They were picked up safely and taken to King George Island.
MV Explorer was not a brand new ship but it was designed to withstand the rigours of Antarctic voyaging. It had been sailing these waters for many years, latterly packed with tourists who came to see the wonders of the Southern Continent.
Now I may be a killjoy but why do these people go? They know they are not doing the planet any good by wandering round the Polar seas in a big, fuel-hungry ship. They feel safe because they are in an artificial environment - safe and warm within a large floating metal box. Looking out in wonder at the ever-diminishing ice that is all you can see of Antarctica.
And contributing to its demise by even being there!
I'm glad that no-one was hurt.
But I hope the incident will make others think twice about the unnecessary intrusion into what is the planet's last really wild place.
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