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Rescue for Antarctic ice-bound ship under threat | Rescue for Antarctic ice-bound ship under threat |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A rescue mission for a ship trapped in ice in Antarctica is under threat as reports have emerged that one of the assisting vessels may itself be stuck. | |
Fifty-two passengers and four crew members were due to be evacuated by helicopter from China's Xue Long ship as soon as conditions allowed. | Fifty-two passengers and four crew members were due to be evacuated by helicopter from China's Xue Long ship as soon as conditions allowed. |
However, the Xue Long has barely moved in a day and may be stuck in the ice. | However, the Xue Long has barely moved in a day and may be stuck in the ice. |
The research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped for nearly a week with 74 scientists, tourists and crew. | The research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped for nearly a week with 74 scientists, tourists and crew. |
The ship is stocked with food and is in no danger, the team on board says. | The ship is stocked with food and is in no danger, the team on board says. |
The planned air evacuation required that the two icebreakers in the immediate area - the Xue Long and the Australian Aurora Australis - be positioned close to each other in open water, clear of the pack ice. | The planned air evacuation required that the two icebreakers in the immediate area - the Xue Long and the Australian Aurora Australis - be positioned close to each other in open water, clear of the pack ice. |
However, the captain of the Xue Long has told the Shokalskiy that he is keeping his vessel in a "holding position". | However, the captain of the Xue Long has told the Shokalskiy that he is keeping his vessel in a "holding position". |
The Aurora Australis, is now understood to be planning to carve through the dense thick pack to assist the Xue Long. | The Aurora Australis, is now understood to be planning to carve through the dense thick pack to assist the Xue Long. |
The initial plan had been for a helicopter from the Xue Long to carry people in groups of 15 up from the pack ice next to the Shokalskiy. | The initial plan had been for a helicopter from the Xue Long to carry people in groups of 15 up from the pack ice next to the Shokalskiy. |
The airlifted passengers would then be transferred by a small boat, deployed from the Australian icebreaker, onto the Aurora Australis. | The airlifted passengers would then be transferred by a small boat, deployed from the Australian icebreaker, onto the Aurora Australis. |
The expedition members would then have travelled to Australia's Antarctic base at Casey some four days' voyage away. | The expedition members would then have travelled to Australia's Antarctic base at Casey some four days' voyage away. |
However, if the Chinese vessel is also stuck and the Australian vessel cannot help it reach clear water, there will be no airlift. | However, if the Chinese vessel is also stuck and the Australian vessel cannot help it reach clear water, there will be no airlift. |
Under the initial plan, the remaining crew members would have stayed on board until another, more powerful US icebreaker arrived in up to 10 days' time, the BBC's Andrew Luck-Baker reports from on board the Akademik Shokalskiy | Under the initial plan, the remaining crew members would have stayed on board until another, more powerful US icebreaker arrived in up to 10 days' time, the BBC's Andrew Luck-Baker reports from on board the Akademik Shokalskiy |
However, it may now be that all of those on board may have to wait for the US icebreaker, the Polar Star, he adds. | However, it may now be that all of those on board may have to wait for the US icebreaker, the Polar Star, he adds. |
Earlier attempts by Chinese and French icebreakers to reach the ship were also foiled by the thick ice. | Earlier attempts by Chinese and French icebreakers to reach the ship were also foiled by the thick ice. |
The Shokalskiy was trapped on Christmas Eve by thick sheets of ice, driven by strong winds, about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart - the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania. | The Shokalskiy was trapped on Christmas Eve by thick sheets of ice, driven by strong winds, about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart - the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania. |