Captain Greybeard

SAFE: Yachtsman Delord (centre) with rescuer Don McIntyre and his wife, Margie It's all rescues this week . . . French yachtsman Alain Delord, snatched from the southern ocean after spending three days in a liferaft, has been landed safely ashore in Hobart, Tasmania. He had the good fortune to be plucked to safety by the Orion, ranked the second-most luxurious expedition cruise ship in the world by the Berlitz Guide. It's a good job he wasn't waiting for the most luxurious expedition ship - Silver Explorer was undergoing repairs after itself being hit by a giant wave. Once safely [...]

Don't be surprised if relations between Norway's Hurtigruten and our Royal Navy are a little frosty today. There's a minor war of words taking place over claims that ice patrol ship HMS Protector had to rescue expedition ship Fram, carrying 202 passengers in Antarctic waters. The story began when the Navy announced yesterday, under a headline proclaiming ICE PATROL SHIP FREES TRAPPED CRUISE LINER, that MS Fram had been surrounded by densely packed ice up to four metres thick. The story was quickly picked up by the BBC and several news outlets - including Captain Greybeard. Protector, described as the [...]

The Royal Navy's claims in this report have been disputed by Hurtigruten. For an updated version, go to WAR OF WORDS A Royal Navy icebreaker has come to the rescue of a cruise ship trapped in Antarctica. HMS Protector broke through densely-packed ice up to four metres thick surrounding the bow of Hurtigruten expedition ship Fram, The vessel, which carries about 250 passengers, was led to safety in an operation that lasted about two hours. Protector is an ice patrol ship, described as the Royal Navy's Swiss Army knife because she is "red, versatile, and always there when you need [...]

PICTURE: Orion Expedition Cruises A French yachtsman who spent three days adrift in a liferaft in the Southern Ocean has been rescued by the cruise ship Orion. Alain Delord was attempting a solo round-the-world voyage when his mast broke during a storm on Friday. He abandoned the vessel 500 nautical miles from Tasmania and activated his emergency beacon. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was able to drop food, water and a survival suit, but the location was too remote for a rescue helicopter. The Orion, returning from a cruise to Antarctica with 100 passengers and 80 crew on board, [...]