A previous trip he made to Antarctica almost a year ago ended in disaster when his yacht Berserk sank in a fierce storm and three men died. Declaring himself "a Viking", the Norwegian adventurer says he is seeking the wreckage of the Berserk, which was serving as a supply ship for an attempt to reach the South Pole on quad bikes. New Zealand authorities, who co-ordinated an extensive search and rescue operation last year in which Mr Andhoy and a companion were airlifted to safety, are furious about his return voyage. They are trying to track down the Nilaya.
Mr Andhoy told the Norwegian public broadcasting service NRK that the presence on board of the unnamed New Zealander was not part of his plan, but was the result of "a hectic departure" from Auckland last week. He said it was "a somewhat tricky situation" because the man did not have a passport or papers with him. But Mr Andhoy insisted: "Everything is on schedule and the atmosphere is good on board. We are well prepared for what may befall us." The broadcaster reported him as saying that the Nilaya was not carrying a locator beacon so it would not put rescue services at risk.
Murray McCully, the New Zealand foreign minister, spoke to Norwegian government officials on Tuesday to express concern over the Auckland man understood to be on board. "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," Mr McCully said. A Foreign Ministry spokesman added: "The Southern Ocean is one of the most remote and inhospitable areas in the world. New Zealand government agencies are obviously concerned about any possibility that there could be a repeat of last year's events in the Ross Sea.'' Marine experts said the workman was unlikely to have adequate clothing and would put an extra strain on the yacht's provisions.
4 comments:
WOuld this not be kidnapping?
I imagine so, but he doesn't seem like the sort of person to be bothered with little informalities like that.
He'll be concerned when makes his next port of call and is summarily arrested and extradited for trial. Provided he doesn't manage to get himself killed, of course, which is a high probability when sailing a 50-footer into the Southern Ocean.
And quad bikes to the South Pole? Seriously? They'll last about a day cross-country before freezing up. If he didn't have an innocent man onboard, I'd say good riddance to bad rubbish.
The officials were trying to serve deportation papers. As such they were telling him to leave the country. So why did he flee with the repair man on board. Surely all he needed to do was accept the papers, say "OK I'm going now" and let the guy off.
@Anonymous he's not planning to go to the pole on quad bikes. He is searching for the wreckage of the supply ship for an attempt to reach the pole on quad bikes. Quite why he is doing that I don't know.
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