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SOME GOOD NEWS

MS Xue Long
Making a helicopter landing zone


Commonwealth Bay where the MS Akademik Shokalskiy embayed herself
 
MS Aurora Australis


 
Just got my morning coffee and opened the NAUTICAL LOG e-mail to read that both the ships stuck in Antarctic ice are free.  The Russian Master of MS Akademik Shokalskiy reported that the wind shifted to westerly and cracks appeared in the ice he was able to use one long crack (known as a "lead") to manoeuvre and make it out to open water with his crew of 22.

Also on board the Chinese icebreaker MS Xue Long (Snow Dragon) the Captain was able to sail through the floating ice to open water with her crew of 101.  This is particularly good news because it was the Chinese icebreaker's helicopter (Snow Eagle) that ferried all the scientists and passengers from the Russian expedition ship to the icebreaker MS Aurora Australis which was in open water.

All these ships were well supplied with food and water so the danger was from ice only which is more than enough to have to worry about.

Good Watch

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