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Icebreaker trying to reach trapped ship in Antarctica also stonewalled by ice
CNN ^ | December 28, 2013 | By Michael Martinez, Holly Yan and CY Xu

Posted on 12/28/2013 5:32:24 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee

(CNN) -- A Chinese ship trying to reach a trapped expedition vessel in Antarctica has now become hampered by ice itself.

The Chinese icebreaker Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, was just six nautical miles away from the Russian-flagged vessel when it became obstructed by heavy ice. Even the icebreaker could not break through the floe, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said Saturday.

"We have been waiting for better weather and ice conditions since last night," Zhao Yanping, second captain of the Xue Long, told CNN. "Xue Long is not moving forward but we're not stuck."

The Chinese crew was hoping a French icebreaker that was also en route would be able to assist. But by midday Saturday, the Australian maritime authority called off the French ship's mission.

But AMSA said another icebreaker, the Australian Aurora Australis ship, is still en route and is expected to arrive late Sunday.

The Russian expedition ship is carrying scientists and passengers led by an Australian climate change professor. . .

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: antarctica; china; russia; shokalskiy
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To: cva66snipe
Here is a pic of the stuck ship the one in blue, the red one is the Chinese ice breaker.


41 posted on 12/28/2013 9:55:24 PM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: jpsb

Thanks. I doubt it has over 20 feet of draft looking at it. Finland built Russian registered. One thing is puzzling. Once you hit ice the smartest thing to do is get out fast and not head into it unless there is no choice. In this case turning around and loosing the trip profits would have been cheaper.


42 posted on 12/28/2013 10:15:01 PM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: cva66snipe

Captain screwed up? He almost made it, got within 2 miles of open water. If he’d left and hour early he would have made it. Damn the bad luck. Well it is going to be very expressive to get that ship free. Not a sure thing that the two smaller ice breakers can get to her. Most likely a real polar ice breaker will be needed. The ship appears to be listing slightly, she’s feeling the ice.


43 posted on 12/28/2013 10:36:57 PM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: jpsb
Well according to scientific predictions by “global warming zealots” they should be in at least 60 degree sea water temps LOL. Yea it does look like it's listing to it's port side some. They have the ladder down at the deck house also looks like. Looking at another thread the passengers seem to be oblivious to the seriousness. I'd say the pucker factor among crew is about 1000 times normal right now. They have enough sense to realize what might happen and the dangers of even an airlift rescue.
44 posted on 12/28/2013 10:54:29 PM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: cva66snipe

Yes I am reminded of the Canadian helo crew that died trying to save fool tourists attempting the north west passage last year. Well off to bed form me, later.


45 posted on 12/28/2013 10:58:54 PM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: Paladin2

That’s just *begging* to be made into some kind of meme with snarky captions.

I propose...

GLOBAL WARMING

[picture]

IS NEITHER


46 posted on 12/28/2013 11:09:20 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Hey comrades. Try a couple small nukes on the ice. That’ll do it fur sur.

Also, your ships will glow at night so you’ll save money on running lights.


47 posted on 12/29/2013 2:10:40 AM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: bandleader

Not as long as there is money to be gotten from grants.


48 posted on 12/29/2013 6:37:52 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (From time to time the.tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.)
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To: fso301
Send in the Canadjuns! Send in the Canadian icebreaker Louis St. Laurant.  photo aPuXoN_Coast_Guard_Icebreaker_zps956f4df6.jpg
49 posted on 12/29/2013 7:34:33 AM PST by Candor7 (Obama fascism article:(http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html))
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To: cva66snipe
If true the ship would be ten - thirten feet in ice. That could possibly start to put the ships power plants and propulsion in danger. Once the sea water intake and discharge ports freeze up the ship can't function. That would include back up generator.

Photos of the Russian vessel show its bow up on the ice and listing a few degrees. I think it is going to have to be abandoned.

What most people don't know about the strength of ice is that in WWII, the Red Army made train bridges of ice to cross frozen rivers and lakes. They would pump water onto the existing ice and built up a layer to the required thickness and then lay track across it.

They could build an ice bridge faster than a conventional bridge and that in part greatly aided them in their winter offensives.

50 posted on 12/29/2013 7:46:11 AM PST by fso301
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