British Coast Guard reports passenger ship sinking in Antarctica

Passengers have been evacuated from a ship carrying 152 people that struck an object in Antarctic waters, Britain's Coast Guard said Friday.

The ship, named the Explorer, was expected to sink, said Neil Oliver of the Coast Guard station at Falmouth, England.

"We know she has hit something, and all the passengers are off on lifeboats. The last we heard was that the captain and first officer were remaining on board," Oliver said.

"They do expect her to go down shortly." The ship carried 100 passengers and 54 crew, said Henry Purbrick, another Coast Guard officer in Falmouth, told Sky News. He said the Explorer was listing about 25 degrees at the last report.

He said a vessel called Antarctic Dream was heading to the area to assist.

Rescue centers in Norfolk, Virginia, and Ushuiia, Argentina, were taking charge of coordination, the Coast Guard said.

London, Friday, AP