Icebreakers unable to reach stuck ship
The first attempt by an Australian icebreaker trying to reach the stricken research ship Akademik Shokalskiy in Antarctica has had to be abandoned.
The Aurora Australis was pushing through Antarctic sea ice to reachit but moved just 2 nautical miles in three hours yesterday.
The 74 crew, including six New Zealanders, have been stuck since Christmas Eve and if they can not be reached soon they may be evacuated by helicopter.
The Aurora’s captain, Murray Doyle, said the ice was too thick to penetrate. ‘‘ Some of the floes are up to 2 metres of ice with a metre of snow on top and very compact.
‘‘ There was just nowhere for us to go,’’ he said.
The attempt was abandoned yesterday morning. Rescue authorities have now put the mission on hold over safety concerns.
‘‘ Further attempts may be made by the vessel . . . once weather conditions improve,’’ Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Lisa Martin told AAP.
If the Aurora remained unable to reach the Akademik Shokalskiy, it was likely that the helicopter on board the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon, which had also failed to reach the ship, would be tasked with rescuing the passengers, she said.
The Snow Dragon came within 7 nautical miles but had to retreat after the ice became too thick.