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Quark Expeditions announced at 18:00 EST (23:00 UTC) that the Antarctic passenger vessel M/V Ocean Nova is no longer aground. As anticipated the ship came away with the assistance of the late evening high tide.

As reported earlier, the vessel grounded at 04:30 UTC / 01:30 yesterday at 68 deg 08 s, 67 deg 06 s W in Marguerite Bay, west of Debenham Island, approximately two kilometers from the Argentine research station San Martin.

Earlier in the day, guests aboard the vessel had been safely transferred to another Quark Expeditions vessel, M/V Clipper Adventurer.

Quark Expeditions says that video of the hull of M/V Ocean Nova was taken during a divers' inspection prior to the refloating has been reviewed by maritime experts. M/V Ocean Nova has not sustained any damage as a result of the grounding. There has been no leaking of any kind.

Should an inspection that will be conducted on the ship's return to port confirm the video findings, Quark Expeditions will operate the February 22, 2009 departure of Ocean Nova. This will be a 20-day voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.