Posted on 01/04/2014 11:15:13 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker left Australia for Antarctica on Sunday to rescue more than 120 crew members aboard two icebreakers trapped in pack ice near the frozen continent's eastern edge, officials said.
The 122-meter (399-foot) cutter, the Polar Star, is responding to a Jan. 3 request from Australia, Russia and China to assist the Russian and Chinese ships because "there is sufficient concern that the vessels may not be able to free themselves from the ice," the Coast Guard said in a statement.
The Russian research ship Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped in ice-clogged Commonwealth Bay since Christmas Eve, while the Chinese ship which came to its rescue, Xue Long or Snow Dragon in Chinese, reported on Friday it too had become stuck nearby.
[snip]
Andrew Peacock, an Australian doctor and photographer who was rescued from the Russian ship, said he and his fellow passengers "have been and continue to be thankful for all the help we have been given and ... aware of the cost and inconvenience to others."
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Where’s Ernest Shackleton when you need him?
With such a sturdy hull and high power to back it up, the 13,000-ton (13,200 metric ton) Polar Star is able to break through ice up to 21 feet (6 m) thick and steam continuously through 6 feet (1.8 m) of ice at 3 knots (6 km/h)........ More
This is getting silly now! Prayers for all involved.
Amazing isn’t it?
I understand why the Russians have an ice breaker, but the Chinese?
Will be cool if our guys and our ship save the day.
So let me get this straight...a US icebreaker is going to “rescue” 2 other icebreakers “trapped” in polar ice that, according to Algore, doesn’t even exist.
They're setting up bases and stations all over Antarctica and need guaranteed access to build and resupply them. When the new protocol about using (not using) the resources in that area comes up for review again in 2048, China will have a say in how it can be used. THEY WANT the resources - coal, iron ores, manganese and hydrocarbon. China is taking the long view. China eyes Antarctica's resource bounty
"A tow truck on a dock tries to lift a mini-van out of the water, only to fall in."
This has turned into something so unbelievable that if you saw it in a movie, you’d think no way would this type thing happen. What a mess! I hope everyone can get underway quickly and safely.
Just curious but do we have a coast in Antarctica that needs guarded?
Send the rescue bill to Algore. He promised there wouldn’t be any ice left based on his global warming proclamations not many years ago.
This story reminds me of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aoSRH9Ddhs
One rescue after another rescue after yet another rescue...
‘twas ever thus. When it hits the fan call for help from the good USA
Try reading the entire article. They break ice for re-supply ships to McMurdo Station, the US presence in Antarctica.
“Polar Star is able to break through ice up to 21 feet (6 m) thick and steam continuously through 6 feet (1.8 m) of ice at 3 knots (6 km/h).”
I find this to be amazing. I had NO idea any ship would move an inch when faced with ice even 2 feet thick much less 21 ft. Anyone know if there is video of a ship such as this in action?
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