Russian passenger ship Akademik Shokalskiy with 74 people onboard was trapped in ice off Antarctica due to bad weather in December 25. The Chinese polar expedition ship Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, was urgently dispatched to its rescue but is now halted within 6 nautical miles to the stranded ship because of the thick ice and bad weather.

At 11:14 am local time (10:14 am GMT+8), December 29, helicopter Xueying or Snow Eagle 12 aboard Xuelong took off from the icebreaker to investigate circumstances surrounding the Russian vessel. An Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis also reached the location and the two ships were set to coordinate rescue plans later that evening.

Russian passenger ship Akademik Shokalskiy with 74 people onboard is trapped in ice off Antarctica. Helicopter Xueying or Snow Eagle 12 aboard Xuelong took off from the icebreaker to investigate circumstances surrounding the Russian vessel at 11:14 am local time (10:14 am GMT+8), December 29. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Ice too thick to break through

Xuelong rushed to the location in full speed once it received a phone call from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority December 25. Simultaneously responding to the call were French icebreaker L'Astrolabe and Aura Australis.

At present, because the ice was too thick to break through and the weather condition was unfavorable, L’Astrolabe has temporarily given up rescue efforts and Xuelong has to stop 6 nautical miles from Akademik Shokalskiy.

The Aurora Australis, which has the strongest icebreaking capability of the three vessels, has arrived in the vicinity of the Russian ship with additional supplies.

Captain Murray Doyle of Aurora Australis said his ship can cut through ice up to 1.35 meters but the ice that traps MV is 4 meters thick.

It’s like “driving your car into a brick wall,” Doyle said.

All safe onboard

Although Xuelong can’t approach further to the MV at the moment, the ice conditions around the stuck ship are already well known thanks to helicopter Xueying’s flight.


Crew of Xueying 12 gets ready for the flight, December 29. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

According to Captain Wang Jianzhong and Second Captain Zhao Yanping who were on board the flight, many passengers were standing on the ice frozen at the right side of the tilted ship. Two yellow tents were put up and people waved at the helicopter. Since the weather in Antarctica changes rapidly, Xueying 12 hurried back to Xuelong after Wang and Zhao checked the ice condition.

Wang believes that all passengers and crew onboard the MV are safe but the thickness and density of the ice surrounding the ship are beyond the icebreaking capability of Xuelong. However, he observed that the ice at the right side of the ship is probably solid enough to allow helicopters to land and evacuate passengers in cases of emergency.

Spokesman with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed that the passengers are safe and no emergency has arisen so far.

“We all know that there's a possibility of this becoming quite a protracted sit and wait,” a passenger told reporters via satellite phone.


Xuelong within 6 to 7 nautical miles to Akademik Shokalskiy. Since Akademik Shokalskiy cleared its iceberg alarm and lowered its help rating, and the thickness and density of surrounding ice far exceed its maximum icebreaking capacity, Xuelong awaited better weather to attempt another rescue. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)