I was Expedition Leader aboard M/S Fram during her maiden season in Antarctica in 07/08 running 10-day Antarctic Peninsula voyages from Ushuaia, Argentina (with one to Falklands/South Georgia). I had proposed a landing at Brown Bluff in the Antarctic Sound but the weather picked up as the team came ashore. So we packed up and headed back to the vessel. M/S Fram has twin Azipod thrusters as stern propulsion. They're pretty fantastic actually. This means though that the main engine does not turn any shafts but instead acts as a large electrical generator for the Azipods. I got my weather gear off on the tender deck and headed to the bridge and as I did, the engine cut out and the whole ship went dark. This is technically impossible but Murphy's Law and all. Without power, the ship was blown sideways down the beach towards the seaward wall of the floating glacier. I walked on the bridge and hell was breaking loose. The Captain, one of the finest I've worked with, dropped an anchor in desperation but it didn't take and the ship slammed broadside into the glacier. We had a giant rock just off the stern and about five metres of water under the keel. I was on there on the bridge on VHF calling mayday as that bump happens. There was surprisingly little damage but we did destroy the starboard lifeboat. The wind held us there for about six minutes until the engine room re-started. Pulling away was pretty effortless considering the maneuverability of Fram. She goes sideways as well she goes forward. Those Norwegian coastal guys sure make great ships (grounding aside). They fixed the problem in Ushuaia. It was a factory fuck up. Getting to Ushuaia was another story. I had 200 justifiably scared pax, an engine that cut out without notice, and no starboard lifeboat. Whole 'nother story indeed. Anyway, hope you like.