News Digest

Passengers rescued from icebreaker stranded in Antarctica after blizzard

Passengers stranded on Australia’s flagship icebreaker, which ran aground in Antarctica, were rescued on Friday, ahead of attempts to refloat the ship. The 37 expeditioners were taken from the Aurora Australis by a barge during three separate rescue trips. They have been ferried to Mawson Station, one of four Australian research bases in the area. The 31-strong crew is remaining on board the stricken vessel and will attempt to move it to a sheltered area where the damage to its hull can be assessed.

The crew are monitoring the ship’s fuel levels and the marine environment, with no evidence of any fuel spill to date

Australian Antarctic Division statement

The Aurora Australis has been stuck since breaking its mooring and being swept on to rocks Wednesday during a raging blizzard while on a resupply mission to Mawson Station. It will no longer be able to pick up expeditioners waiting at the station to be taken home and they will now be collected by plane. Meanwhile, the crew will attempt to move the icebreaker off the rocks at West Arm in Horseshoe Harbour using the ship’s ballast system and work boats. The Australian Antarctic Division said the damage to the vessel’s hull was thought to be light and no fuel was leaking.