Two New Zealanders were among the ship's crew. Photo / Reuters
Two New Zealanders were among the first to be bundled into lifeboats after their cruise liner hit an iceberg on Friday night and began sinking off Antarctica.
The two Kiwis - employed as crew on the MS Explorer - did not suffer any injuries and were reported last
night to be recuperating at a military base on a small Chilean island.
A spokesman for Gap Adventures, the ill-fated liner's owner, told the Herald on Sunday the company had contacted relatives of both crew.
The two New Zealanders, who were among 150 passengers and crew who were rescued, had been checked over by medical staff and were fit and well, company spokesman Paul Mancer said.
He was unsure whether the Kiwi crew members were male or female or what role they had on the liner.
The 2400-tonne Liberian-registered Explorer finally sank at 7.30am NZT on Saturday in the Drake Passage, between Antarctica and the southern tip of South America.
An attempt later to ferry the cruise passengers in small boats from the vessel Nordnorge to King George Island, in South Shetland, was called off because of strong winds.
Chilean navy and air force personnel then ferried 84 people to Chile's Frei military base, and the remaining 70 to Uruguay's Artigas military bases for an overnight stay.
A decision would be made today on whether the New Zealanders returned home, or remained with other crew members, Mancer said.
Chief executive of Antarctica New Zealand Lou Sanson told the Herald on Sunday from Scott Base the sinking could have been far more serious - and just added to fears about a major ecological disaster occurring in future in the Antarctic.
With the rise in tourism in the area, it was important every step possible was taken to ensure ships and cruise liners met safety standards.
He had been on the Explorer 10 years ago and was aware there were safety concerns about the vessel.
Click here for photos of the stricken cruise ship