美国国家公共电台 NPR--Antarctic cruises are gaining popularity, though 4 Americans recently died on them

Antarctic cruises are gaining popularity, though 4 Americans recently died on them

Transcript¹

The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the deaths of four Americans during cruises to Antarctica. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on Feb. 6, 2023.)

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Cruises to Antarctica are becoming more popular, even though rough seas and a harsh climate make the trip more dangerous. Four Americans died in three separate incidents during cruises there last November, so the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. Here's NPR's Greg Allen.

GREG ALLEN, BYLINE²: It was once seen as remote and inaccessible³. But for anyone with at least several thousand dollars to spend, a trip to Antarctica is now possible. If you spend enough, you can do it in luxury. But as with all travel, there are risks.

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TOM TRUSDALE: This wave hit it and came over and literally⁴ broke through windows and just washed into these rooms.

ALLEN: Tom Trusdale was on a Viking cruise ship with his wife, Pam, in November, heading back to port in Ushuaia, Argentina, when a rogue⁵ wave slammed into the ship. He described it to ABC News.

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TRUSDALE: And not only did it wash into the rooms, but it broke walls down. And some walls went into the next room.

ALLEN: One person died, and four were injured in that incident. The Trusdales also had a scare when a rigid⁶, inflatable Zodiac boat they were in suddenly lurched, injuring one passenger and sending another one for a brief time into the frigid⁷ water. In another incident, a Zodiac boat from a Portuguese-flagged ship, World Explorer, capsized with six passengers on board. Two Americans died. Another person died in November aboard a Netherlands-flagged Antarctic cruise ship. The Coast Guard and the NTSB will examine those accidents and make recommendations on how to improve safety on Antarctic cruises. Despite those accidents, this tourism season in the Antarctic is posed to set new records for cruise lines. More than 100,000 people are expected to book Antarctic cruises this season, up nearly a third from the number who traveled there three years ago. Stewart Chiron writes and talks about the cruise industry as The Cruise Guy.

STEWART CHIRON: There's a lot of pizzazz that may go into, you know, being able to say, hey, I was down in Antarctica. Not too many people have been there. It's like going to space. So now that there are better accommodations, nicer accommodations going to this region of the world, more people are willing to do it.

ALLEN: Chiron says, after a two-year interruption because of the pandemic, the demand for Antarctic travel may have led some operators to offer more cruises earlier in the season when seas are rougher. As alluring⁸ as Antarctica is as a destination, Becca Pincus says passengers need to be aware of the risks and consequences of accidents there. Pincus, who directs research and policy at the Wilson Center's Polar Institute, says the hazards include frigid water and very choppy seas.

REBECCA PINCUS: It's an ocean that surrounds a landmass. But because it's this really wide-open ocean space, the wind travels across that surface almost without obstacle. So the fetch is unlimited⁹, and that kicks up big waves.

ALLEN: For now, there are no limits on how many cruise ships or passengers can visit Antarctica. An industry group, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, provides some oversight¹⁰ and coordinates¹¹ activities like excursions and landings on the continent during the busy season. Pincus says the industry itself may act to limit tourism and the number of ships visiting Antarctica.

PINCUS: The cruise ships really want to give the impression that, when you are down in Antarctica, you are alone in a wilderness¹². And so they usually try to stay out of sight of each other.

ALLEN: That can be difficult, with as many as five cruise ships sharing one landing site on certain days. Pincus worries about the environmental impact tourism may have on Antarctica if it's not regulated or constrained¹³. But on the positive side, she says people who visit and love the Antarctic can help build support for tackling the biggest threat facing the polar regions - climate change.

Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

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1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

5 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

6 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

7 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

8 alluring   

adj.吸引人的，迷人的

参考例句：

• The life in a big city is alluring for the young people. 大都市的生活对年轻人颇具诱惑力。
• Lisette's large red mouth broke into a most alluring smile. 莉莎特的鲜红的大嘴露出了一副极为诱人的微笑。

9 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

10 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

11 coordinates   

n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• The town coordinates on this map are 695037. 该镇在这幅地图上的坐标是695037。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

13 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。