The transfer took place by helicopter from the Russian
ship to an ice floe and passengers were then carried over by Fast Rescue Craft
to RSV Aurora Australis in open water today. The Aurora Australis has been
stationed nearby over the last few days during efforts to break through the ice
in poor visibility and snow showers.
Rado Antolovic, Managing Director of P&O Maritime, a
subsidiary of global marine terminal operator DP World, said: “We are delighted
that the passengers of the MV Akademik Shokalskiy have been rescued. The crew
of our ship have made repeated attempts to bring the passengers to safety over
the last few days in adverse weather conditions and we are proud that their
perseverance has helped conclude this dramatic event which has made headline
news around the world.”
The Aurora Australis is currently deployed as an
icebreaking research and resupply vessel supporting the Australian Antarctic
Division’s Antarctic programme. Duties include expeditionary and cargo
transport to the Australian Government’s Antarctic bases and Sub-Antarctic
territories as well as marine research in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic
waters.
The ship is a Class 1A ice breaker with a capacity for
two Sikorsky S76 or Bell Long Range helicopters. At 94 m long it has a maximum
speed of 16 knots and weighs 3,991 tons, and can accommodate 140 people (24
crew and 116 passengers).
Source : SN-TR.
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