Die geplante Hubschrauberrettung der im Polareis der Antarktis eingeschlossenen Expeditionsteilnehmer verzögert sich weiter. Die Vorbereitungen waren bereits im Gange, als die australische Seesicherheitsbehörde (Amsa) am Donnerstag mitteilte, dass das Eis an der entscheidenden Stelle nicht tragfähig sei. Es sei daher "jetzt unwahrscheinlich, dass die Rettung heute erfolgt".
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VIDEO. L'Akademik Shokalskiy toujours prisonnier des glaces. -Antarctic mission now pinning hopes on Australian icebreaker for rescue.
Icebound Antarctic passengers face air rescue if ship cannot reach them soon...
Icebound Russian Ship's Passengers to Be Rescued by Helicopter...
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Chinese icebreaker fails to free Russian research ship from ice captivity
Einsatz in der Antarktis: Eisbrecher "Schneedrache" scheitert mit Rettungsversuch....
Anche i soccorsi bloccati dal ghiaccio Antartide, la nave russa resta in trappola....
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Den Leuten an Bord der fest sitzenden "MV Akademik Shokalskiy" gehe es gut, versicherte die Behörde. Es bestehe für niemand Gefahr. Der Hubschrauber des chinesischen Eisbrechers "Snow Dragon" sollte die 52 Passagiere, die seit Weihnachten mit der "Shokalskiy" im Eis fest sitzen, abholen. Die 22-köpfige Crew sollte an Bord bleiben. Die Distanz zwischen den Schiffen beträgt rund 22 Kilometer. Von der "Snow Dragon" aus sollten die Leute dann per Boot vier Kilometer weiter zum australischen Eisbrecher "Aurora Australis" gebracht werden. An diesem Teil des Rettungsplans scheiterte die Mission.
Warten auf bessere Verhältnisse
"Wegen der Eisverhältnisse kann die Barkasse der 'Aurora' die 'Snow Dragon' nicht erreichen", teilte die Behörde mit. "Der Hubschrauber kann aus Gründen der Tragfähigkeit nicht auf der 'Aurora' landen, und es ist auch nicht sicher genug, damit neben der 'Aurora' zu landen." Alle Beteiligten zögen es deshalb vor, zu warten, bis die Verhältnisse sich gebessert hätten. Offenbar können die Expeditionsteilnehmer nicht an Bord der "Snow Dragon" bleiben.Die "Shokalskiy" ist auf den Spuren eines Polarforschers unterwegs, der die Region vor 100 Jahren besuchte. Sie war schon auf dem Rückweg, als das Packeis das Schiff plötzlich 2800 Kilometer südlich von Hobart in Australien einschloss. Das Expedition sollte eigentlich am 6. Jänner wieder in Neuseeland anlegen.
(APA/dpa)
http://diepresse.com/home/panorama/welt/1512232/AntarktisExpedition_Bergung-in-letzter-Minute-gestoppt?from=rss
2/1/14
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Rescue delayed for icebound ship in Antarctica....
ReplyDeleteCANBERRA, Australia: The latest attempt to rescue passengers on board a research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice for more than a week was delayed again Thursday after sea ice prevented a barge from reaching one of the rescue vessels.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre, which is handling the operation, said earlier on Thursday that weather conditions had improved and rescue flights were expected to commence. A helicopter was expected to airlift passengers to a Chinese icebreaker, the Snow Dragon, and a barge would then ferry them to a nearby Australian vessel.
But before the rescue operation could begin, sea ice had blocked the path of the barge that needed to make it from the Australian vessel, the Aurora Australis, to the Snow Dragon. Because the Aurora isn't built to handle a helicopter landing, it appeared unlikely that the passengers would be rescued Thursday, the maritime authority said.
"This rescue is a complex operation involving a number of steps. Operations in Antarctica are all weather and ice dependent and conditions can change rapidly," the agency said in a statement.
The rescue operation for the 74 scientists, tourists and crew on the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy has been plagued by one delay after another since the vessel became stuck on Christmas Eve. Three icebreakers were initially dispatched to try and crack their way through the thick ice surrounding the ship, but all failed. The Aurora came within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the ship Monday, but fierce winds and snow forced it to retreat to open water. .........http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Rescue-delayed-for-icebound-ship-in-Antarctica/articleshow/28261853.cms
2/1/14
TAntarctic ship helicopter rescue begins.....
ReplyDeleteThe helicopter evacuation of a Russian research ship stranded in Antarctica was launched Jan. 2 after a series of stalled attempts due to bad weather and sea ice.
"The Chinese helicopter has arrived at the Shokalskiy. It's 100 percent we're off! A huge thanks to all," tweeted expedition leader Chris Turney.
Turney's post was accompanied by a video showing a red helicopter from the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long touching down on a landing pad marked out on the ice beside the Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stranded in pack ice in Antarctica since December 24.
An orange-suited rescue crew from the Chinese ship disembarked onto the ice before the helicopter again took off.
"If it all goes well we'll be off in about an hour's time," Turney said on the film.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was still awaiting formal confirmation from the Xue Long that the rescue operation had begun.
AMSA estimates that the rescue of the ship's 52 passengers, which include scientists, tourists and journalists, will take at least five hours, depending on the weather.
The group will be moved in five flights of up to 12 passengers, with each return journey to the Xue Long some 10 nautical miles distant expected to take 45 minutes.
Under the aerial rescue plan outlined by AMSA earlier Jan. 2 the passengers will be moved from the Xue Long to Australia's Antarctic supply ship the Aurora Australis via a barge.
It will be some weeks before the passengers reach dry land, with the Australis needing to travel via Australia's Casey Antarctic base to refuel.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/antarctic-ship-helicopter-rescue-begins.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60444&NewsCatID=359
2/1/14
Antarktis-Expedition: Helikopter ist eingetroffen....
ReplyDeleteDie Bergung der Passagiere des in der Antarktis festsitzenden Forschungsschiffs "Akademik Schokalskij" ist angelaufen. Der Hubschraubereinsatz habe begonnen, so Expeditionsleiter Chris Turney am Donnerstag. Zuletzt waren zwei Versuche gescheitert, das seit dem Heiligen Abend mit 74 Menschen an Bord im Eis feststeckende Schiff mit Eisbrechern zu befreien........http://diepresse.com/home/panorama/welt/1512232/AntarktisExpedition_Helikopter-ist-eingetroffen?from=rss
2/1/13
Helicopter rescue begins for passengers stuck in Antarctic ice....
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - A Chinese helicopter has reached a Russian ship stranded in Antarctica for nine days and is beginning to pick up 52 passengers who spent Christmas and the New Year trapped in ice, the expedition leader said on Thursday.
The helicopter from the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon will take all the passengers from the ice-bound Akademik Shokalskiy and transfer them to an Australian Antarctic supply ship, the Aurora Australis.
Chris Turney, the leader of the private expedition, said conditions had improved enough to mount the rescue after days of blizzards, fog and shifting sea ice.
"The Chinese helicopter has arrived @ the Shokalskiy. It's 100% we're off! A huge thanks to all," Turney posted on Twitter.
Television pictures showed the helicopter checking out a makeshift landing pad on the ice then apparently picking up the first group of 12 passengers.
The Russian ship left New Zealand on November 28 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of an Antarctic journey led by famed 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 Australia's southern island state of Tasmania.
Everyone on board was believed to be in good condition and they were never in any great danger.
The Chinese ship got within sight of the Akademik Shokalskiy on Saturday, but turned back after failing to break through the ice, which was more than 3 meters (10 feet) thick in some place.
Two other vessels, Australia's Aurora Australis and a French flagged ship, also tried to help but failed to reach the ship because of strong wind and heavy snow.
Earlier on Thursday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority which is coordinating the rescue, had said the rescue had again been thwarted by ice and bad weather.
(Additional reporting by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Michael Perry and Robert Birsel)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/02/us-antarctica-ship-rescue-idUSBREA000JX20140102?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
2/1/14
Australian Icebreaker Heads for Home with Rescued Passengers ....
ReplyDeleteAn Australian icebreaker carrying the 52 passengers rescued from an icebound Russian research vessel is heading to port, after being told that its assistance was not needed by another stranded ship, the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon.
The Aurora Australis turned for home on Saturday, after the crew of the Snow Dragon said they were not in danger and had several week's worth of supplies.
A helicopter from the Chinese ship on Thursday airlifted to the Aurora Australis all the passengers from the Russian research ship, stuck in ice since December 24. But theSnow Dragon also became trapped...............http://www.voanews.com/content/australian-icebreaker-heads-for-home-with-rescued-passengers/1823296.html
4/1/14