Iceberg warning for ships in Southern Ocean

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2006

WELLINGTON (AFP) — An iceberg warning has been issued for ships in the Southern Ocean after more than 100 were sighted just south of New Zealand. "We were surprised by the number of them and by how far north they were," said squadron leader Andy Nielsen, the captain of the New Zealand Airforce Orion which found the icebergs while on a routine fisheries patrol.

"We were operating in a major shipping lane and, due to the number of these things floating around, we thought it wise that Maritime New Zealand be informed." Nielsen said they radioed in to marine authority Maritime New Zealand so a navigation hazard warning could be issued. The northernmost iceberg was only 260 kilometres (161 miles) off the New Zealand coast and the largest was estimated at two kilometres by 1.5...