The US Coast Guard said on Saturday, the United States is sending a heavy icebreaker to help free a Russian ship and a Chinese icebreaker gripped by Antarctic ice. In a statement it said the Polar Star is responding to a request for assistance from Australian authorities as well as from the Russian and Chinese governments.
Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander Vice Admiral Paul Zukunft said the US Coast Guard stands ready to respond to Australia's request. "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," he said.
On Friday, a Chinese ice-breaker that helped in rescuing 52 passengers from a Russian ship stranded in Antarctic ice also got stuck in heavy ice. The Chinese Snow Dragon ferried the passengers from the stranded Russian ship to an Australian ice-breaker late on Thursday. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said it now had concerns about its own ability to move through heavy ice.
On November 28, the Russian-owned research ship left New Zealand to commemorate the 100th anniversary of an Antarctic journey led by Australian explorer Douglas Mawson. It became trapped on December 24, 100 nautical miles east of French Antarctic station Dumont d'Urville and about 1,500 nautical miles south of Tasmania.
During their time on the ice, passengers entertained themselves with movies, knot tying classes, languages, yoga, photography, and rang in the New Year with dinner, drinks and a song for their adventure.
The US Coast Guard said the Polar Star is 399 feet (120 meters) long with a maximum speed of 18 knots. It can continuously break 6 feet (1.8 meters) of ice at three knots, and can break 21 feet (6.4 meters) of ice backing and ramming. The cutter is cutting short its planned stop in Sydney to help with the mission.
