Working Conditions Aboard the Ortelius

A 66-year-old Dutch woman who probably had suffered stroke, was medevaced as quickly as possible from the "Ortelius" which was sailing in the Antarctic. It changed its course to the American McMurdo Station, a research station on an island on the edge of the Antarctica. When it was decided to evacuate the woman on Jan 30, 2017, the ship was 620 kilometers from the station. The "Ortelius" was trying to get as close to McMurdo Station as conditions permitted to land the woman. If the ice prevented the ship from reaching McMurdo, the ship's own helicopter was to transport her to the Station. The woman will fly from here to New Zealand on a regular flight. In close cooperation with the U.S. Antarctic Program, the ship's operator and crew the RCCNZ was working to coordinate the rescue operation, being in contact with the ship, the McMurdo Station and government offices in New Zealand to pave the way. The evacuation was expected to take place on Jan 31 around midday with a plane to New Zealand, arriving on Feb 1. The woman was in a stable condition.

After the Norwegian patrol boat "Sortland" and the supply vessel "Polarsyssel" (IMO: 9690949) had attended the disabled"Ortelius" a good distance north of Forlandet the ship with 146 people on board, among them 105 passengers, was anchored off Longyearbyen where technicians continued working on the engine damage. The expedition staring on June 1 had to be canceled. The passengers who were actually on board were offered trips from Longyearbyen. It was expected the ship would be ready for the next cruise starting on June 8. Three engineers from the Netherlands were flown out to the "Ortelius" in the evening of June 4 and immediately started repairs at the engine while the ship was still was under tow. Norwegian report with photo: http://svalbardposten.no/nyheter/slept-til-byen/19.7240

Towing of the "Ortelius" went much faster than first thought. The convoy reached the west side of Svalbard in the afternoon of June 5 and reached the shelter of Longyearbyen at midnight. It had been estimated it could take about two days to reach the port of Longyearbyen for necessary repairs. The distance from Hinlopen Strait to Longyearbyen wasd around 300 nautical miles. The Coast Guard vessel "Sortland" was following the "Ortelius". Norwegian report with photo: http://www.nordlys.no/ortelius/svalbard/hrs/her-slepes-cruiseskipet-rundt-svalbard/s/5-34-431110