New Zealand is sending a second aid package to a damaged Russian fishing vessel stranded in icy waters off Antarctica.
The "Sparta," with 32 crew members on board, hit underwater ice on December 16 that tore a large hole in the hull and caused it to tip.
Rescue craft, hampered by heavy sea ice, are still several days away from the stricken ship.
The New Zealand Air Force said it expected difficult conditions dropping the aid supplies to the "Sparta."
"We've got unfavorable winds so we've got an eight-hour flight time, so it's an hour longer than the last flight," said Flight Lieutenant James Anderson. "When we get down there we are not expecting the best conditions around 'Sparta.' We are expecting quite a low cloud base, and that can offer us different challenges like white out conditions when we get down there."
The men aboard the "Sparta" have been pumping water from the hull since the first batch of equipment was dropped to them on December 17. The ship is no longer listing, and is now on an even keel.
compiled from Reuters reports
The "Sparta," with 32 crew members on board, hit underwater ice on December 16 that tore a large hole in the hull and caused it to tip.
Rescue craft, hampered by heavy sea ice, are still several days away from the stricken ship.
The New Zealand Air Force said it expected difficult conditions dropping the aid supplies to the "Sparta."
"We've got unfavorable winds so we've got an eight-hour flight time, so it's an hour longer than the last flight," said Flight Lieutenant James Anderson. "When we get down there we are not expecting the best conditions around 'Sparta.' We are expecting quite a low cloud base, and that can offer us different challenges like white out conditions when we get down there."
The men aboard the "Sparta" have been pumping water from the hull since the first batch of equipment was dropped to them on December 17. The ship is no longer listing, and is now on an even keel.
compiled from Reuters reports
