Professor Chris Turney, his crew and passengers on the Akademik Shokalskiy are finally rescued by helicopter after a tense wait in the Antarctic. Courtesy Chris Turney/YouTube/Vine.
ALL 52 passengers have been airlifted from a Russian research vessel icebound in Antarctica and are safe on board an Australian supply ship, rescuers said.
"Aurora Australis has advised AMSA that the 52 passengers from the Akademik Shokalskiy are now on board," the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.
Passengers were flown to the Australian ship in groups of 12 by a helicopter from a Chinese icebreaker.
The Akademik Shokalsky has been stuck in ice since December 24 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont d'Urville, with several icebreaking attempts failing to reach it.
After a number of false starts a helicopter evacuation of the research vessel's passengers began on Thursday evening, with official confirmation that it was underway reaching AMSA at 6.15pm AEDT.
Help from above... A helicopter from the nearby Chinese icebreaker Xue Long picking up the first batch of passengers from the stranded Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy. Picture: Andrew Peacock / www.footloosefotography.com
The Australian agency, which is coordinating the rescue mission, reported all passengers were safey on board the Aurora Australis - an Australian government supply ship - at 10.15pm, some four hours later.
Passengers were airlifted from a makeshift landing pad on the ice beside the Russian ship to an ice floe near the Australis.
Expedition leader Professor Chris Turney expressed relief that the wait was finally over.
"We've made it to the Aurora Australis safe and sound. A huge thanks to the Chinese and the (government's) Australian Antarctic Division for all their hard work," Prof Turney tweeted.
Rescue mission... The helicopter mission to rescue 52 passengers trapped on the icebound Russian research ship finally got underway in Antarctica on January 2 after a number of false starts and failed icebreaking attempts. Picture: Andrew Peacock / www.footloosefotography.com
A helicopter rescue was announced on Tuesday, but heavy rain and winds saw it shelved until Thursday morning, when a second attempt was foiled by unfavourable sea ice.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the complex, multi-vessel operation would go ahead as soon as weather and ice conditions permitted, with the situation likely to change rapidly.
By late afternoon a favourable window had opened, with Prof Turney announcing that a helicopter from the nearby Chinese icebreaker Xue Long had arrived at the marooned ship to begin evacuating passengers.
"The Chinese helicopter has arrived at the Shokalskiy. It's 100 percent we're off! A huge thanks to all," Prof Turney tweeted.
His posting was accompanied by footage showing the Xue Long's red helicopter touching down on a landing pad marked out on the ice beside the Akademik Shokalskiy and an orange-suited rescue crew disembarking.
"If it all goes well we'll be off in about an hour's time," Mr Turney said on the film.
Sticky beaks... A pair of Adelie penguins inspecting the scene as the first load of passsengers from the stranded Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy wait for a helicopter. Picture: Andrew Peacock / www.footloosefotography.com
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority this morning said weather conditions in the Antarctic had improved and those marooned on the MV Akademik Shokalskiy would soon reach the end of their ordeal.
"Wind in the area is now down to 10 knots and visibility has improved. Weather conditions are expected to remain favourable over the next 36 hours," a spokeswoman for AMSA said.
"The helicopter on board the Chinese flagged vessel Xue Long will be used to rescue the passengers from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy."
A screen-capture from the Aurora Australis' web camera shows the ice-breaker approaching the Chinese rescue ship Xue Long - here little more than a speck on the left-hand side of the image.
The spokeswoman said the mission to rescue those on board the Russian ship, trapped in sea ice around 1500 kilometres from Hobart since Christmas Eve, would be complex and was expected to take around five hours.
The passengers, including scientists and researchers who begun an expedition to Antarctica to study sea ice, were airlifted to safety, while the 22 crew will remain on board.
It is not yet clear if the passengers will then be brought to Australia.
Australia's Rescue Coordination Centre continues to coordinate the incident.
Rain and winds up to 30 knots have delayed the rescue of passengers stranded on a ship off Antarctica.
The MV Akademik Shokalskiy stuck in Antarctic ica as it waits to be rescued. Picture: Andrew Peacock / www.footloosefotography.com
The MV Akademik Shokalskiy stuck in Antarctic ica as it waits to be rescued. Picture: Andrew Peacock / www.footloosefotography.com
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