Ship with 52 rescued Akademik Shokalskiy climate scientists and tourists is only able to make 1/4 knot (0.29 mph) in heavy ice towards open water. Latest webcam views show all ice all around the ship and no open water ahead.
More webcam views follow.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority Press release: 8.00am AEDT: 3rd January 2014
Antarctica rescue operation now complete
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) can confirm that the rescue operation from the Akademik Shokalskiy in Antarctica has been completed.
RCC Australia was notified at 6.15pm AEDT yesterday evening that the first group of 12 passengers had boarded the helicopter from the Xue Long at around 6pm AEDT. RCC Australia was then notified at 7.30pm AEST that the first 12 passengers had arrived at the Aurora Australis.
Five flights were conducted to take the passengers to the Aurora Australis over a distance of about 14 nautical miles. Four flights were undertaken with 12 people each flight, and the fifth flight rescued four passengers. The helicopter landed on an ice floe adjacent to the Aurora Australis.
At 10.05pm AEDT, AMSA was advised that all 52 passengers had been safely rescued and were on board the Aurora Australis.
Aurora Australis advised AMSA that helicopter operations had been completed at about 10.45pm AEDT and all passengers, luggage and equipment had been transferred.
The Aurora Australis will now start heading towards open water. The ship is currently travelling at a quarter knot in heavy ice towards open water. It will take until late evening to reach open water.
The Aurora Australis will then head towards the Casey base to complete a resupply before heading to Australia. The Aurora Australis is not expected to arrive in Australia until mid-January.
All 22 crew members of the Akademik Shokalskiy remain with the vessel.
RCC Australia has overall coordination of the incident as it is in Australia’s search and rescue region and has regular contact with the vessels involved.
The search and rescue operation commenced on Christmas morning AEDT after the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in the United Kingdom received a distress message via satellite from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy. The distress message and subsequent coordination of the incident was passed to RCC Australia, who is the responsible search and rescue authority for this area.
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Other camera views.
Port Camera:
![A140022300C[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/a140022300c1.jpg?quality=83)
Stern camera:
![A140022300B[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/a140022300b1.jpg?quality=83)
Source: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/webcams/aurora
So we now have two stuck ships plus the Aurora on standby:
The Aurora Australis has been placed on standby by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA)….
This seems to be unecessary as the Aurora isn’t going anywhere soon….
Fortunately the melting ice will save further embarassment.
eco-geek,
The web cams still show the Aurora Australis surrounded by ice, so who is on stand by to rescue them?
“Fortunately the melting ice will save further embarassment.”
What melting ice? At this rate they’ll be stuck waiting for next spring.
For those wondering about the Russian crew, I am sure they are very much on the minds of the climate “scientists”…. as they could be very useful scapegoats.
After all, this is the kind of classy behaviour we have come to expect and this shower will have learned from the rest of the climate alarmist community that there are never any serious consequences for anything, however egregious. (No consequences for themselves of course – not for everyone else)
The BBC for one is usefully preparing the ground by, at least in one main TV report, referring to the ship as a “Russian research” vessel. No mention at all of who was leading the expedition, it’s purpose or the fact that it was merely hired from the Russians.
MattS – I should use /sarc tags more often…
The web cam does seem to show open water at the edge of the melting ice about ten (guess) miles ahead so the Aurora might make it out in a couple (guess) of days.
Of coure she is now “on standby” to rescue the Xue Long. I guess this means she may be “hove to” in the ice now as there is little point in making for open water if she really has to go back and rescue the Xue Long.
A big Russian icebreaker is on its way to rescue all three ships anyway so baring calamaties the embarassment really should be over in a week or so – subject to hull strength, wind direction etc.
The whole misadventure is gobsmacking testimony to the AGW misadventure.
The Aurora’s chopper is a lot smaller (good pictures on marinetraffic.com) which explains why the helipad is not strong enough as mentioned earlier.
@ur momisugly ROM that is a great point about the real scientist at Casy and to King of Cool , that might mean the Russian ship and it’s crew is FAR from safe, because as you point out this ain’t over yet and the fallout in the next few weeks will tell the story I hope.
Some one else mentioned the A319 air craft that flies to Hobart. I somehow feel the 52 “scientists” should take the slow boat, although I am not sure if the Aussie crew would agree with me. What, as they say, a bloody c.ck-up. (btw looking at the wind map on Google that ship is still in a pocket of dead air).
Sorry Casey of course.
The new Australian Government unlike the last one, is not stuffed full of ecolunatics {that’s how they got elected} might just send these idiots the bill for the rescue operation which by now must be rising by the hour!
I woner if they complied with any of the following:-
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/tourism/visitor-guidelines
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/tourism/australian-policy
Especially this from the Australian Tourism Policy
a financial security system that requires all tourism activities to carry adequate insurance, provide a bond, or otherwise indemnify or reimburse others against the cost of support provided in the event of accidents or an emergency.
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/tourism/environmental-approvals-for-tour-and-expedition-organisers
Are this lot the modern-day equivalent of an albatross ?
ROM says:
January 2, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Well said Sir, I fully concur with your evaluation of this farce
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_03/Antarctic-mission-Akademik-Shokalsky-has-routine-day-Chinese-ship-in-difficulties-8161/
Info. on crew of russian vessel, who are still onboard and will remain until she can get underway..or..
Marooned scientists? Macarooned scientist!
Ed Zuiderwijk:
~You say
“Marooned scientists? Macarooned scientist!”
Or, as the immortal Bugs Bunny would say,
Scientist maroons!.
Richard
MattS says: January 2, 2014 at 11:37 pm
> “Fortunately the melting ice will save further embarassment.”
> What melting ice? At this rate they’ll be stuck waiting for next spring.
You seem to forget that seasons in the southern hemisphere are 6 months shifted from the northern hemisphere. Their January 3rd is equivalant to our July 3rd. In other words, it’s mid-summer in Antarctica right now.
Yeah. The ice is going to melt in a couple weeks or on the outside a month, so barring getting squished between a couple big chunks, these boats and crews can out last it. For that matter the tourists could have hunckered down and waited for the thaw.
The real anxiety for the expedition was getting the matter out of the public eye.
DavidQ says:
January 2, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Sorry, muffed the /blockquote
.
No editing of URL required. Just clear cache, that’s all.
artwest says:
January 2, 2014 at 11:37 pm
“For those wondering about the Russian crew, I am sure they are very much on the minds of the climate “scientists”…. as they could be very useful scapegoats.”
artwest – the Australian ABC is all ready trying to write the media out of any role in the ruination of the Antarctic official research programs. they have posted this onto facebook.
“ABC News
The Australian Antarctic Division says the operators of a Russian ship stuck in Antarctic ice should foot the bill for a rescue involving the Aurora Australis.
What do you think? Should the operators of the Akademik Shokalskiy foot the bill for their rescue?”
Their question needs a few links to this site for the truth about who delayed the ship and put it at risk and some genuine comments sheeting the bill and the disruption of the real Antarctic scientific program home to the promoters, the university,the media and the ship of fools responsible for this debacle.
The Captain and crew will otherwise get a Kangaroo trial and be inferred to be the guilty party to get the rest of the idiots off the hook.
We should be loud and clear on this scapegoating and loading guilt on other parties to dodge there own culpability is Un Australian.