ANTARCTICA: Officials have warned of a potential environmental disaster after a fire on a Japanese whaling ship, left it drifting near penguin breeding grounds.
New Zealand is leading efforts to help the stricken ship. Conservation Minister Chris Carter said it was carrying 132,000 gallons of heavy oil and 211,000 gallons of furnace oil.
He added: "It is a serious situation - a ship badly damaged and full of toxic oil."
No oil has yet spilled from the ship, which is not thought to be in immediate danger of sinking. The blaze has been brought under control.
Most of the 148 crew of the 8000-ton Nisshin Maru were evacuated to three other Japanese whaling ships in the area.
One crewman was still missing, almost 12 hours after New Zealand officials received the ship's distress signal - just after 4pm yesterday.
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