Rescue icebreakers forced to turn back

AN ANTARCTIC rescue mission has suffered a setback after two icebreakers abandoned efforts to free a research ship that is stranded deep in sea ice.

A group of Australians has been stuck on the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokals- kiy since Christmas Day. The vessel, with 74 people on board, sent a distress call after becoming trapped in heavy sea ice — which has continued to expand around it — near Antarctica.

Three ice-breaking ships were sent to free the stranded ship, located over 1500 nautical miles south of Hobart.

China’s Snow Dragon icebreaker was the first to arrive but the icebreaker had to turn back yesterday after it, too, encountered heavy sea ice that threatened the ship’s own safety. A French ice- breaker, L’Astrolabe, was released by rescue authorities from having to continue with the mission.

That leaves Australia’s Aurora Australis as the only remaining ship that can help, but it is not expected to reach the vessel until this evening.