Buenos Aires  - The cruise ship Ocean Nova managed to get out of trouble at high tide in the early hours of Thursday, two days after running aground near an Argentine military base in Antarctica.

Quark Expeditions, the US-based company that operates the ship, said its hull suffered no damage, according to Spanish divers who inspected the 73-metre-long Ocean Nova. There were also no fuel leaks.

The 65 passengers had been evacuated Wednesday to the ship Clipper Adventurer, also operated by Quark Expeditions, and were sailing to the southernmost Argentine town, Ushuaia. The crew of 41 remained on the Ocean Nova.

"We are grateful that there was no damage to the environment and that all Ocean Nova passengers are safe," said company president Patrick Shaw.

"As anticipated, the ship got out with the help of the high tide late in the afternoon," the tourism firm said. dpa