A Bahamas-flagged vessel, Ocean Nova, with 74 passengers and 30 crew members aboard, was stranded on early Tuesday morning near an Argentine base in Antarctica, the Argentine Army said.

By press time, there has been no report of casualties in the accident.

The Ocean Nova, a Bahamas flagged cruiser with 104 people aboard which conducted a tour of Antarctica, is seen stranded near an Argentine base in Antarctica February 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

The vessel is in stable conditions without risk for the crew and the passengers aboard, the Argentine Army said, adding that the San Martin Base has made visual and communication contacts with the stranded ship.

The Ocean Nova, a Bahamas flagged cruiser with 104 people aboard which conducted a tour of Antarctica, is seen stranded near an Argentine base in Antarctica February 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

The Ocean Nova has a length of 240 feet (73 meters) and was made in Denmark. Aboard the vessel were people from some 22 different countries, on their eighth day of a two-week expedition to explore the polar circle.

The Argentine and Chilean armies have launched operations to assist in the passengers' rescue, military sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)