Scientists
and explorers on Spirit of Mawson voyage will spend Christmas and Boxing Day
awaiting rescue
theguardian.com,
Australian Associated Press, Wednesday 25 December 2013
 |
| The MV Akademik Shokalskiy in the Antarctic. Photograph: The Guardian |
Explorers
are stranded near Antarctica after their ship became wedged in by thick sheets
of sea ice.
The Spirit
of Mawson voyage, which includes scientists, explorers, tourists and the
Guardian journalists Alok Jha and Laurence Topham, is trapped in Antarctic ice
floes and awaiting rescue.
But with
the nearest ship with ice-breaking abilities at least two days away, the crew
will spend Christmas and Boxing Day stuck about 1500 nautical miles south of
Hobart.
The
Australian Maritime Safety Authority received a distress call on Christmas
morning, notifying the rescue co-ordination centre that the ship was trapped
and would need help.
A
spokeswoman on Wednesday said three ships had been sent to assist but it would
take at least two days to reach them.
"It's
in quite a remote part of the world," she said. "But we have everyone
safe. The vessel isn't in any immediate danger."
It is not known
how long the ship has been unable to break free from the ice.
The
Russian-built ship, the MV Akademik Shokalskiy, left New Zealand in late
November and has about 50 passengers and 20 crew members.
The voyage
is part of a research expedition to commemorate the centenary of Douglas
Mawson's exploration.
The
Australasian Antarctic Expedition leader, Chris Turney, wrote on Twitter:
"Heavy ice. Beautiful; light wind. Only -1degC. All well. Merry Xmas
everyone from AAE."
.jpeg) |
Crew emerge
from the Chinese helicopter that arrived at the trapped
Antarctic expedition
ship. Photograph: Laurence Topham/Guardian
|
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