Saturday, February 4, 2012

What is the opposite of stowaway?





New Zealand immigration officials were intent on serving the skipper of a Norwegian yacht with deportation papers this week. The 52' Nilaya, which was docked in Auckland harbor, is captained by 34-year-old self-declared "Viking" Jarle Andhøy (1st and 2nd images), who is determined to find the wreckage of the Berserk (3rd image), which he had sailed to Antarctica in 2011 in an unauthorized attempt to reach the South Pole on quad bikes. That expedition, timed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen's successful trip, ended in disaster. The Berserk was caught in a severe storm and sank in McMurdo Sound, killing Robert Skaane, 34, Tom Gisle Bellika, 36, and Leonard Banks, 32. Authorities - who evacuated Andhøy and his only surviving crew member Samuel Massie Ulvolden, then 18 (4th image, more photos here) after an extensive search and rescue operation - were none too happy that the renegade Norwegian had proceeded without the proper permits and without taking adequate safety precautions. This time, Andhøy and Massie, now 19, took quick action to circumvent the law as authorities closed in. The Nilaya hurriedly cast off, in defiance of both the Norwegian and New Zealand governments."It's fair to say the actions of the skipper are of some concern to the New Zealand government and have been for some time. [We] are obviously concerned about any possibility that there could be a repeat of last year's events in the Ross Sea,'' New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully told Norwegian government officials. But according to Andhøy, rescue services will not be put at risk because the Nilaya is not carrying a locator beacon. Andhøy reassures, "Everything is on schedule and the atmosphere is good on board. We are well prepared for what may befall us." Tell that to the Auckland marine mechanic who was caught unawares while working on the Nilaya's anchor. He is now - without passport, proper clothing, or planned-for provisions - on his way to the most remote place on earth...

1 comment:

  1. Victor Brisbin2/04/2012 7:39 PM

    OMG. Maybe the skipper strategized that the NZ authorities would have to effect a rescue if they ran into trouble, since the NZ mechanic was shanghaied.

    ReplyDelete

You may add your comments here.

Labels