BUENOS AIRES, Feb 18: All passengers aboard a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship stuck in the ice in Antarctica, Ocean Nova, were to be evacuated on Wednesday after spending the night stranded, the Argentine navy said.

The passengers were to transfer to another passenger liner run by the same US company, Quark Expeditions, and taken to the southern Argentine city of Ushuaia, it said in a statement.

The navy said Ocean Nova was carrying 74 passengers and 30 crew members. But Quark Expeditions put the numbers at 65 passengers and 41crew.

Ocean Nova became immobilized on Tuesday close to the Argentine research base San Martin on Millerand Island in Marguerite Bay, on the western side of the Antarctic peninsula reaching towards South America.

It was believed either the low tide or icebergs caused it to become stuck.

A Spanish oceanographic ship and the sister cruise ship, Clipper Adventurer, went to the scene to give assistance.

Argentine officials said those on board the passenger ship were in “no danger.” Quark Expeditions said the passengers had a “good night’s sleep” and were being looked after.

“All aboard continue to be safe and there is still no sign of leakage of any kind. Quark does not anticipate any environmental impact,” the company said in a statement.

It said high winds had prevented two attempts by the crew of Ocean Nova to free the ship at high tide. Another attempt would be made later Wednesday.

If that last attempt failed, “then all passengers will be transferred to Clipper Adventurer for the return to Ushuaia,” it said. —AFP