Ice drama takes new turn with rescue ship stuck
ANTARCTICA – A ship using its helicopter to rescue 52 people from a trapped Antarctic ship now finds itself in need of rescue – after it got stuck in heavy ice.
Not having moved for days while preparing for the airlift, the Chinese-owned Snow Dragon is now wedged in ice.
The ship was used as a launch pad to pick up the passengers on Thursday, after they had spent nine days stranded. Their ship, the Akademik Shokalskiy, became wedged in ice on Christmas Eve.
After a lengthy operation to ferry passengers from the Akademik Shokalskiy to the Australian ship, the Aurora Austrialis, by helicopter, the Snow Dragon was due to leave the area. But less than 24 hours later, it too was stuck in ice.
Now “it will attempt to manoeuvre through the ice when tidal conditions are most suitable” this weekend, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said yesterday.
Greg Mortimer, one of three expedition leaders on the Akademik Shokalskiy, said it had been a “roller-coaster” rescue.
From the Australian ship, he said: “I was immensely relieved for the people under my care.”
He added that he was “very sad” to have left behind the Russian vessel and its crew.
Jason Mundy, Australian Antarctic Division acting director, who is on board the Aurora Australis, said: “The passengers seem very glad to be with us and they are settling into their new accommodation.”
Mundy said there were enough cabins for the passengers, and the ship “can look after them well”.
The passengers, mostly Australians and New Zealanders, will probably arrive in Tasmania around mid-January.
The Akademik Shokalskiy’s Russian crew will stay on board until the ice breaks up and the ship is freed. The Russian-owned research ship left New Zealand on November 28 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of an Antarctic journey led by Australian explorer Douglas Mawson.
It became trapped on December 24, 100 nautical miles east of French Antarctic station Dumont d’Urville and about 1 500 nautical miles south of Tasmania.
During their time on the ice, passengers amused themselves with films, classes in knot tying, languages, yoga and photography, and rang in the New Year with dinner, drinks and a song composed about their adventure.