US icebreaker to join Antarctica rescue bid

The Polar Star, a 399ft coastguard cutter, had a request from Australia, Russia and China to help the Russian and Chinese ships because “there is sufficient concern that the vessels may not be able to free themselves from the ice”, the coastguard said.

The Russian research ship Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped in ice-clogged Commonwealth Bay since Christmas Eve, while the Chinese ship which came to its rescue, Xue Long (Snow Dragon) reported on Friday that it too had become stuck nearby. A day earlier, the Chinese ship’s helicopter had retrieved 52 scientists, journalists and tourists from the Russian ship, who are now on their way home aboard an Australian icebreaker.

Authorities say the 101 crew aboard the Chinese ship and 22 aboard the Russian ship had plenty of supplies and were in no immediate danger. The Polar Star has cut short its planned stop in Sydney, Australia, to assist.

“Our highest priority is safety of life at sea, which is why we are assisting in breaking a navigational path for both of these vessels”, Vice Admiral Paul Zukunft, the coastguard Pacific Area commander, said.