Saturday, December 28, 2013

Rescue of icebound Antarctic ship faces setback

In this image provided by Australasian Antarctic
Expedition/Footloose Fotography the Russian ship
MV Akademik Shokalskiy is trapped in thick Antarctic
ice 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Australia,
Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. The research ship, with 74
scientists, tourists and crew on board, has been on
a research expedition to Antarctica, when it got
stuck Tuesday after a blizzard's whipping winds
pushed the sea ice around the ship, freezing it in
place. (AP Photo/Australasian Antarctic
Expedition/Footloose Fotography, Andrew Peacock)


Rescue of icebound Antarctic ship faces setback
Dec 28, 2013 | Phys.org

A Chinese icebreaker that was en route to rescue a ship trapped in Antarctic ice was forced to turn back on Saturday after being unable to push its way through the heavy sea ice.

The Snow Dragon icebreaker came within 7 miles (11 kilometers) of the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck since Christmas Eve, but had to retreat after the ice became too thick, said spokesman Alvin Stone.

The Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been on a to Antarctica, got stuck Tuesday after a blizzard's whipping winds pushed the sea ice around the ship, freezing it in place. The ship wasn't in danger of sinking, and there are weeks' worth of supplies for the 74 scientists, tourists and crew on board, but the vessel cannot move.

Three icebreakers, including the Snow Dragon, have been trying to reach the ship since Wednesday. France's L'Astrolabe made it to the edge of the surrounding the ship on Saturday, but called off its mission after it, too, failed to break through, said Lisa Martin, spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is coordinating the rescue.

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