Icebreaking Vessel Arrives to Help Ship Stuck in Antarctic Ice
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Researchers on board a Russian ship stuck in the Antarctic ice are still waiting to be broken free, though the icebreaking vessel intended to free them arrived at the edge of the ice pack on Sunday.
The icebreaking ship Aurora Australis arrived at a location about 20 nautical miles east of the Russian-operated Akademik Shokalskiy early Sunday morning. Due to snow showers, however, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre says that the Aurora Australis is waiting for clearer weather before approaching the stuck ship.
The Akademik Shokalskiy, an ice-strengthened vessel touring the Antarctic as part of a research mission, became stuck in thick ice off the coast of Antarctica on Wednesday. The first icebreaking ship to arrive — the Chinese Xue Long — reported on Friday night that it could not break through the ice.
The second rescue vessel, the French icebreaker Astrolabe, was also unable to break the ice.
The Aurora Australis has a significantly higher rating for icebreaking capability.
The scientists aboard have continued their research, recording seal sounds beneath the ice, counting bird populations, noting the algae and lichen on ice and rocks nearby, and pointing out penguins, birds and seals that live along the shorelines of Antarctica.
The scientists were on the second leg of a two-part, two-month-long journey around Antarctica in which they retraced the steps of the first expedition to map Antarctica a century ago, led by Sir Douglas Mawson. The trip has been dubbed “The Spirit of Mawson.”
Fifty-seven people spent Christmas Day aboard the ship, including 22 crew members and 35 passengers. Most of those aboard are scientists, though the group did open the trip to members of the public with prices starting at $8,000 for a bunk.
The researchers aboard are mainly from universities in New Zealand and Australia.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, if the Aurora Australis is unable to break through the ice, the passengers on board the Akademik Shokalskiy may have to be removed by helicopter.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio