The 106 passengers and crew stranded when the adventure cruise ship Ocean Nova ran aground have been safely transferred to another ship.  The Clipper Adventure rescued the passengers and crew and is returning to Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city, where the 15-day polar exploration originally began.

 The Ocean Nova ran into trouble in high winds near an Argentinian research station west of Debenham Island, Antarctica. The captain issued a distress signal when he was unable to free the ship. No electricity or fuel was lost, and there was no risk to those aboard.

Several hours after passengers were rescued, the evening tide freed the ship from the rocky shore. An inspection by divers showed no damage or leaking. The tour company, Quark Expeditions, plans to use the Ocean Nova for a 20-day expedition of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands beginning Feb. 22.

This is not the first time cruise ships have encountered trouble in the rough waters around Antarctica. A Canadian-owned cruise ship sank in 2007, and another ran aground in December 2008. The potential for accidents and the ecological impacts of cruises have made Antarctic tourism a subject of much debate.