(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) The Chinese ship that helped rescue passengers from a Russian vessel icebound in the Antarctic has itself become frozen in place, Australian authorities said Saturday. Last week the Snow Dragon volunteered its helicopter to lift 52 passengers off the Akademik Shokalskiy and set them down on an ice floe next to the Aurora Australis.
The Snow Dragon's captain told the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that his "ship is safe, it is not in distress and does not require assistance at this time" even though it is stuck fast in pack ice, dpa reported. AMSA said the Aurora, which had been instructed to wait with the Snow Dragon, was now free to continue on to an Australian base outside the polar circle.
"The masters of both Akademik Shokalskiy and Xue Long Snow Dragon agree that further assistance from Aurora Australis is no longer required and they will be able to provide mutual support to each other," AMSA said.
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