Uh, oh: Federal Government to seek full cost recovery for Antarctic expedition rescue
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt yesterday said costs, estimated at about $2.4 million, would be sought from the insurer of the operators of the vessel.
The MV Akademik Shokalskiy, chartered by the University of NSW-associated Australasian Antarctic Expedition to retrace the steps of explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, became stuck in thick sea ice on Christmas Eve.
The 52 passengers were rescued by the Aurora Australis on January 2.
Mr Hunt said the Commonwealth would seek compensation for the recovery effort.
“We will be seeking full cost recovery through insurers for the up to $2.4 million costs incurred by the Australian government,” he said.
“We have a duty to protect life at sea and we do that willingly.
“However, what we see here is that there are some questions as to whether or not the ship was detained by the action of those on board within an area the captain had identified as potentially being subject to being frozen in.
“I think we have a duty on behalf of taxpayers to seek full cost recovery.”
Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/federal-government-to-seek-full-cost-recovery-for-antarctic-expedition-rescue/story-fncynjr2-1226809033585
h/t to Lucia at the Blackboard
Related: Battle begins over Antarctic rescue bill
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I’m betting that with this revelation…
About 2.30pm the weather deteriorated. At the same time Captain Kiselev saw slabs of sea ice moving into the open water channel from which the ship had entered the area. He called for everyone to return.
A passenger standing near Professor Turney overheard the voyage leader, Greg Mortimer, telling him over the radio to bring passengers back to the ship so it can leave.
But minutes later, Professor Turney drove six more passengers into the field.
…the insurers will likely say the incident was caused by neglience on the part of Dr. Chris Turney, and toss the claim back in their laps.
UPDATE: Gosh, the hardships these Guardian guys faced is just inspiring. So is the lack of self-awareness.
And finally, @loztopham gets his peanut butter milkshake. At Dubai airport. pic.twitter.com/CJaVVTrp4e
— Alok Jha (@alokjha) January 24, 2014
Ah, the Greenpeace debacle…the French government should have waited and warned them they were entering restricted military space and let them proceed to the nuclear test site (with a “Willy Wonka” type don’t go there warnings on the radio the whole way), where their ship would have sunk with all hands when the shockwave from the bomb going off cracked their keel. The French sank that ship in harbor when it was supposed to be empty to prevent that eventuality.and trying to save lives.
Personally I have no problem whatsoever with running the Greenpeace rhibs over when they try to interfere with some operation at sea. The law of gross tonnage is a harsh mistress, but the large vessel has the right of way in the sea lanes. Civilian vessels are captained by idiots when they intentionally enter military operations zones, and the if the ones who intentionally intrude die, that is Darwin in action, I’ll shed no tears over the loss of the terminally stupid. Of course, some people say I am heartless for rooting for the whalers in that stupid animal planet show where they endorse high sea piracy as well.
Owen in GA said @ur momisugly January 25, 2014 at 8:34 pm
And the announcement from the French to ensure the vessel was empty came when? The French were exploding a nuclear bomb in ourbackyard, not France’s. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you are trying to drum up sympathy for the perpetrators of 9/11. Presumably beforehand whoever they were didn’t know whether their idea would work, or not.
“The Pompous Git says:
January 26, 2014 at 1:04 am
The French were exploding a nuclear bomb in ourbackyard, not France’s.”
Whether you like it or not, it was still French territory. A bit like the Brits testing in the Australian outback.
wazsah says: @ur momisugly January 24, 2014 at 12:25 pm
… Also curious at contradiction between Russian crew who said on return to Bluff that they put out a “pan pan pan” message yet AMSA gets this from Falmouth UK as a “distress” call….
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Pan is a step below Mayday. Both mean you are in trouble, but Mayday means there is an immediate threat. Stuck, Pan. Sinking, Mayday. They are both distress calls.