Troubles for Antarctica ship passengers and crew just won’t quit. Now that the 52 passengers aboard a Russian research ship stuck in the ice for a week have been airlifted off that vessel, the Chinese ice-breaker that aided with the rescue is now trapped.
So the Australian ice-breaker that now holds the rescued passengers — they were carried by helicopter from the Russian ship to the Australian craft — is hanging around, waiting to see if it will be called on to help dislodge the Chinese vessel, Xue Long.
“Xue Long notified [the Australian Maritime Safety Authority] that it has concerns about their ability to move through heavy ice in the area,” said an AMSA spokesperson, in a statement reported by BBC. “[The Chinese ship] will attempt to maneuver through the ice when tidal conditions are most suitable during the early hours of 4 January.”
AMSA also said the crew aboard the Xue Long did not face any danger, BBC reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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