Sparta should be free tomorrow

The Russian fishing vessel Sparta in the Ross Sea. Photo / supplied

The damaged Russian-flagged vessel which is being patched up off the coast of Antarctica will be able to move on tomorrow from the spot where it has been struggling to stay afloat for more than a week.

The 48-metre ship Sparta was trawling for Patagonian toothfish on December 16 when it hit a submerged iceberg and issued a distress call from alongside the Antarctic ice shelf, about 3700 kilometres south east of New Zealand.

The 32 crew have since struggled to pump water out of the damaged ship and keep it afloat as they waited for emergency repair supplies.

South Korean icebreaker Araon reached the Sparta about 4am yesterday and began transferring fuel onto the stranded ship about an hour later.

The transfer lifted the bow of the Sparta, exposing a 10 centimetre by 40cm hole on its hull, about 1.5m below the waterline. The lifting of the bow would allow metal plates to be welded over the hole.

Repair work began on the hole this morning and very good progress was being made, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Mike Roberts said.

"Since the bow was raised above water level a second hole has been discovered on Sparta's bulbous bow, but this has only caused localised flooding in a small, contained space in this area. It should not affect her making safe passage.''

Araon was expected to remain alongside Sparta while repair work was done and would then escort Sparta to an ice-free area of open ocean.

Both vessels were expected to leave their current location at midnight (NZT) on Wednesday.

The weather in the area had been calm.

For safety reasons it was not possible to access the exterior damage in Sparta's current location, nor was the second hole able to be repaired, Mr Roberts said.

Sparta was expected to be brought to Lyttelton for further repairs.