This image taken by expedition doctor Andrew Peacock of www.footloosefotography.com on January 2, 2014 shows a helicopter from the nearby Chinese icebreaker Xue Long above passengers from the stranded Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy as the first helicopter rescue takes place after over a week of being trapped in the ice off Antarctica. The helicopter mission to rescue 52 passengers trapped on the icebound Russian research ship finally got underway in Antarctica on January 2 after a number of false starts and failed icebreaking attempts. It was expected to take at least five hours to ferry all passengers from the icebound vessel to the Xue Long -- 10 nautical miles distant -- by helicopter, with five flights of up to 12 passengers and a return journey taking 45 minutes. The ship is carrying scientists and tourists who are following the Antarctic path of explorer Douglas Mawson a century ago, details of which at www.spiritofmawson.com, and have been carrying out the same scientific experiments his team conducted during the 1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition -- the first large-scale Australian-led scientific expedition to the frozen continent. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / MANDATORY CREDIT: Andrew Peacock / www.footloosefotography.comAndrew Peacock/AFP/Getty Images
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52 passengers rescued from trapped ship
01:43 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

NEW: Xue Long icebreaker is beset by ice and can't move

Chinese ship's helicopter helped rescue 52 passengers Thursday

Xue Long's captain says no assistance is needed and vessel will try to break free

Australian icebreaker carrying the rescued people chugs toward base

CNN  — 

The Chinese icebreaker that sent out a helicopter on Thursday to airlift dozens of passengers from a ship stuck in the Antarctic ice is now beset by ice and unable to move, according to Australian Maritime Safety Agency (AMSA).

The captain of the Xue Long told AMSA that his ship is safe, has plenty of food and supplies and will not need assistance at this time.

The Australian icebreaker, the Aurora Australis, which is carrying the rescued passengers, was placed on standby in case the Xue Long needs help. But the captains of both the Xue Long and the Russian-flagged MV Akadmik Shokalskiy agreed they no longer need the Aurora Australis.

They said they will be able to provide mutual support to each other.

AMSA released the Aurora Australis from search and rescue and the vessel now continues to make its passage with the freed passengers to the Casey base to complete a resupply.

The Chinese ship plans to try to get out of the thick ice early Saturday at a point when tidal conditions are most favorable, according to AMSA.

The Chinese vessel’s struggle comes the day after its helicopter ferried all 52 passengers from an ice-locked Akadmik Shokalskiy to the Aurora Australis.

The Akademik Shokalskiy had been trapped in unusually deep ice since Christmas Eve with scientists, journalists, tourists and crew members on board.

The rescued passengers, most of them Australians, will still have a lengthy wait before they return home. Officials say they estimate the Aurora Australis will get the group back to the Australian mainland by mid-January.

The 22 Russian crew members remain on the Akademik Shokalskiy, waiting for the ice to shift and allow the ship to break free.