Russian polar expedition yacht missing in Antarctica

[flighter]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17638098


A Russian Polar expedition yacht with a crew of seven has gone missing in Antarctica, a spokeswoman has told the BBC News website.

There has been no contact with the Scorpius since Monday night, when the crew said gale-force winds were keeping it at anchor, Anna Subbotina said.

It is believed to be stuck in ice between two polar research stations.

The crew - four Russians and three Ukrainians - set out in September to visit the two poles.

Ms Subbotina said she had last received an email from the crew at 03:00 Moscow time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT on Monday).

They had left Ukraine's Vernadsky polar station in the Argentine Islands and were on their way to Russia's Bellingshausen station in the South Shetland Islands when the storm forced them to drop anchor.

[Paul Ward]

I hope they're safe, small boats can go missing in Antarctica with little warning or trace. It's late in the season too, sea-ice will be moving northwards now and a yacht won't have any say where it goes at all if caught in that.