Helicopter arrives at ice-bound Antarctic ship, rescue operation starts

January 2, 2014

The rescue of passengers of the Russian ship Akademik Shokalsky, stuck in the Antarctic, has started, as a Chinese helicopter has reached the stranded crew. The operation follows several failed evacuation attempts.

A total of 52 scientists and tourists are being transported to an ice flow adjacent to the Australian icebreaker the Aurora Australis, and then taken by a small boat to the Australian ship, according to expedition leader Chris Turney.




This image released by the Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science at the University of New
South Wales and taken by Andrew Peacock on December 27, 2013 shows the ship MV Akademik
Shokalskiy trapped in the ice at sea off Antarctica (AFP Photo / Andrew Peacock)