Professor-Khromov

The "Professor Khromov" has been asked to join the search for a yacht in trouble in atrocious conditions in Antarctic waters. The distress beacon on the 14.3-metre steel yacht "Berserk", with three crew, stopped working in the night of Feb 23, 2011. The beacon was activated about 5pm (7pm AEDT) on Feb 22 from the Ross Sea, near Scott Base in Antarctica. The rescue centre ordered the navy's offshore patrol ship HMNZS "Wellington" into the search zone but found no trace of the missing yacht which was in the area on sea trials. The "Wellington" was released from the search because of the deteriorating conditions but two more ships, the Sea Shepherd ship "Steve Irwin" and the "Professor Khromov", were asked to join the search. The yacht originally had five crew on board but it was thought two were dropped off at Antarctica to attempt a trip to the South Pole. Conditions were atrocious with six- to eight-metre swells and winds up to 110km/h. The conditions prevented the use of an aircraft.