Fishermen caught in Mir crash zone

Tauranga brothers Trevor and Butch Canty are running for their lives, but not fast enough to outstrip the defunct space station Mir as it plummets towards Earth on a potential collision course with their albacore-seeking fishing boats Lady Valerie and Dolphin III.

A worried Trevor Canty yesterday spoke to Bay of Plenty Times by satellite phone, outlining the dilemma facing the masters and crew of a 12-strong fleet of largely American-owned fishing boats caught in the Mir crash zone in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean.

When an estimated 1500 fragments of Mir, some the size of Volkswagen cars and with a combined weight of 25 tonnes, begin raining from the sky, the Lady Valerie, Dolphin III will be within a nerve-wracking 200 nautical miles of splashdown.

That is, if the Russians are able to bring Mir in on target, 3800km east of New Zealand around 6pm today.

To add to the woes of the fleet and its nervous crews, Mr Canty said a severe storm broke out about 8pm yesterday.

Sanfords' fleet co-ordinator and experienced seaman Peter Martin told Bay of Plenty Times the boats would be able to make little headway in such circumstances as their speed would be reduced by up to 75 per cent.

Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) deputy director Tony Martin said navigational warnings had been issued "for a little while."

But that was cold comfort to Mr Canty, his brother and their colleagues, who received initial reports of Mir's re-entry co-ordinates, which had altered considerably, 10 days ago. He now failed to see how the fleet could make it clear of the area prior to splashdown. Abandoning the vessels was not an option.

"When they first gave out the position, it was much further away. But they have revised it and now we won't get 200 miles away. We can only cover 180 miles a day. We're moving north as fast as we can."

Mr Martin yesterday confirmed Russian authorities had revised their estimate of the central impact area, but offered Mr Canty a ray of hope.

"What we are talking is a very approximate estimate, the most current is a point somewhat further southeast."

Vessels working in the area were warned to expect a series of sonic booms, similar to the sound of a small nuclear bomb, as Mir ploughed earthward, said Mr Canty.

In recent days international observers noted Mir had developed a tumbling action that, if not corrected, would see debris from the space station scattered across the Pacific from 52deg north to 52deg south in an uncontrolled entry.

Yesterday, Mir-watchers heaved a sigh of relief as the Russians remedied the situation by firing up Mir's on-board computer.

However, that action has not been enough to convince international authorities of a problem-free descent and Tahitians have been warned to stay indoors until re-entry is complete.

Mir will begin its final orbit about 12.30pm today, when the first of three stabilising thrusters is fired. Another will be fired about 2pm and the third, which will send Mir hurtling on a final, fiery journey earthward, will take place about 5pm.

Russia's solar powered space station has no radioactive components, but it is believed there are mutant bacteria on board. Authorities say these will be incinerated by the intense heat of re-entry.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES