Desperate bid to save boat

The crew of a decrepit Russian-registered fishing vessel are trying desperately to stop their vessel sinking off the Antarctic coast, as a New Zealand-led rescue mission rushes to its aid.

But it could be three days before the help arrives.

The 23-year-old Sparta was long-lining for Patagonian toothfish in the Ross Sea when it hit a submerged iceberg near the Antarctic ice shelf early yesterday.

The crew issued a distress call about 3am, as water began to flood into the hull.

The 708-tonne ship was about 3700km southwest of New Zealand.

Andrey Kulish, manager of the ship's San Diego-based owner, Sedna Industries, said the iceberg punched a 40cm by 10cm hole in the hull about 1.5m below the waterline, flooding the vessel's biggest hold.

The captain, officers and engineers stayed on board to pump water from the vessel while the rest of the 32 crew - mostly Russian and Indonesian - put on immersion suits and left the ship in liferafts with fresh water and supplies.

"They are doing good," said Mr Kulish. "The captain is super professional.

"He knows this vessel and he remained very calm and was doing his job.

"Everyone was well co-ordinated - even the people floating on rafts."

The ship was yesterday listing at 13deg, but Mr Kulish said crew members had rigged a tarpaulin around the hull and sealed the hole, slowing the flooding as they continued to pump water out.

Mr Kulish said the crew hoped to get the water in the ship down to a level where its refrigeration units could freeze it.

Failing that, Sparta's sister ship, Chio Maru No 3, which was about 540km away, had a diver aboard and other ships coming to its aid would probably have underwater welding gear.

Mr Kulish was confident the ship could be saved and brought to New Zealand for repairs.

In Wellington, New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre search and rescue mission co-ordinator Ramon Davis said three vessels had gone to the aid of the Sparta but all were facing difficulties with heavy sea ice 1.5 metres thick.

The New Zealand fishing vessel San Aspiring, which can move through ice, was yesterday 840km northwest of Sparta but it was still at least three days' sailing away.

A third vessel was only 35km away but was hemmed in by ice.

Mr Davis said the rescue centre was continuing to contact vessels in the Southern Ocean to see if any could assist.

Sparta is licensed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, based in Hobart, to bottom-fish for Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish in the Ross Sea.