The rescue operation

December 24, 2013 research vessel "Akademik Shokalsky" was blocked in the Antarctic iceberg fragments. On board were 74 people. First, to the ship trying to break several large ships, but the 3-meter ice repeatedly destroyed all hopes of rescuing from the ice captivity. Today you can see how held the first part of the international rescue mission in Antarctica. He moved to the aid of several powerful warships. First, 3-meter-long ice has mastered Chinese and French icebreakers, and then could not get through "Aurora Australis", which connected the main hopes of rescuing from the ice captivity.





"Academic Shokalsky" was blocked in a day after the beginning of the trip. The distress signal went with him on December 25 morning.





Icebound "Akademik Shokalsky».



Started international rescue operations in Antarctica. Towards the "Akademik Shokalski" moved Chinese and French icebreakers, but they could not break through the 3-meter ice.

Chinese icebreaker "Snow Dragon" is saving "Akademik Shokalski».



View from the Chinese icebreaker "Snow Dragon", hastening to the aid. To the left on the ice visible silhouettes penguins.



The scientists, waiting for rescue, dealing with scientific matters.



Passengers also do not become discouraged. When will celebrate New Year in Antarctica?



The passenger vessel "Akademik Shokalsky" and a local resident.



Then, the main hopes pinned on a strong Australian ship "Aurora Australis", but it failed. After that, it was decided to evacuate the passengers of the helicopter.

Curious penguins are watching what is happening.



The passengers and crew of "Academician Shokalski" together preparing ground for planting Chinese helicopter, tamping snow. The rescue operation was planned just for the New Year, but because of the heavy snow it had to be postponed for 2 days.



January 2, 2014, on Thursday successfully passed the long-awaited rescue mission in Antarctica. On board the Russian ice-locked ship "Akademik Shokalsky" Chinese helicopter evacuated in small groups of researchers and tourists - only 52 people.



By the way, the Chinese helicopter - this is our Ka-32A11BC.



Passengers waiting in line at the "Akademik Shokalski" until evacuated by helicopter early group 2 December 2014.



On the "Academic Shokalski" were 22 crew members, who did not abandon the ship. He comes to the aid of US icebreaker Polar Star, which is not an obstacle multimeter ice. Food and water to members of the crew of the Russian ship will be enough for a month.





View from the "Academician Shokalski».



Rescued 52 passengers were in the end on the board of the Australian icebreaker "Aurora Australis", but the unexpected happened and the Australian ship had to make an unscheduled stop: move on it hinders the very Chinese icebreaker "Snow Dragon", who also participated in the rescue operation, but in the end he got stuck in the ice of Antarctica multimeter. Icebreaker "Aurora Australis" still managed to find a workaround, and it is now moving to Tasmania.

Chinese icebreaker "Snow Dragon».



View from the "Academician Shokalski».



International rescue mission in Antarctica continues.



Source: loveopium.ru