#expeditioncruising
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| A Chinese helicopter lands on an ice floe next to the Aurora Australis during the Akademik Shokalskiy rescue operation. Photo: Nicky Phillips |
Australia’s Antarctic Division continues to pursue
cost recovery options following the stranding of the Akademik Shokalskiy
last Christmas.
According to a report in The Age today, a Senate estimates
hearing heard on Monday that the budget for the Australian Antarctic Division,
which has distanced itself from the failed expedition, would shell out about
$2.1 million for the rescue operation.
“The Australian Antarctic Division has engaged legal advice
with a view to pursuing options for recovering the full cost of the rescue as
expeditiously as possible,” said a spokeswoman for the Australian Antarctic
Division.
The University
of NSW signed the sub-charter to hire
the vessel on the ill-fated mission co-led by two University of NSW
scientists, Chris Fogwill and Chris Turney. Experienced Antarctic expedition
leader, Greg Mortimer, oversaw other aspects of the mission and, according to anotherreport in The Age, issued an order to bring passengers back to the vessel as it
needed to leave. Anecdotal reports suggest the two scientists failed to comply
with the order, resulting in the standing of the vessel.
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