A cruise ship with 122 passengers and crew on board has run aground off the
coast of Antarctica.

The Argentine vessel MV Ushuaia was involved.

Two Chilean naval ships have been sent to assist in the rescue and
repatriation of the 82 passengers and 40 crew.

Latest reports said
those on board are being taken to a Chilean military base in Antarctica by the
navy. 

The cause of the grounding is as yet unknown, according to
adventure operator Tucan Travel which had five holidaymakers on board the ship.

Passengers and crew are reported to be in good health and the ship is
not in danger of sinking.

The owner and operator of the ship, Antarpply
Expeditions, said it is doubtful that sailings scheduled for December 8 and 18
will go ahead.

Tucan Travel managing director Matt Gannan said there was
no imminent danger to passengers and crew.

"We have been in close
contact with our cruise operator and owner of MV Ushuaia, Antarpply, who in turn
is working closely with the Chilean navy and other passenger ships to make sure
everyone gets off safe and sound.

"Their first priority is to ensure the
safety of all passengers and we are confident that they are on top of the
situation.

"The plan at the moment is to transfer passengers from the MV
Ushuaia to a Chilean navy vessel or passenger ship and on to King George Island
then fly passengers to Ushuaia in Argentina.

"We hope that we will get
everyone back to Ushuaia by December 6."

Antarpply has made arrangements
to carry out safety checks on the vessel when it arrives back at the port of
Ushuaia.

The ship has leaked fuel but contamination is reported to have
been contained by oil spill barriers. 

A cruise ship sank in the same
region a year ago and 150 passengers had to escape in lifeboats. The MS Explorer
hit an iceberg close to the South Shetland Islands.

by Phil Davies