USCG, along with NTSB and other agencies, are investigating several deaths and injuries of that took place onboard passenger vessels recently traveling in Antarctic waters.
The agencies are now deploying teams to Ushuaia, Argentina to investigate four instances that took place between November 15 and December 1, 2022.
In one incident, two U.S. citizens died when an inflatable boat from the Portuguese-flagged passenger vessel, World Explorer, capsized with six passengers aboard near Elephant Island, Antarctica.
Another U.S. citizen was also injured when an inflatable boat from the Norwegian-flagged passenger vessel, Viking Polaris, sustained a keel-bladder failure near Damoy Point, Antarctica.
Furthermore, USCG informed that a U.S. citizen died, and four others were injured in a third incident when the Viking Polaris was struck by a large wave in the Drake Passage while transiting to Ushuaia, Argentina.
According to officials, passengers on board the ship described choppy conditions leading up to the incident.
Finally, U.S. citizen died from “an injury sustained” onboard the Netherlands-flagged passenger vessel, Plancius, in a fourth incident.
