Icebreakers en route to rescue ship trapped in antarctic ice

Three icebreaker ships reported they are responding after the captain of a Russian-built ship trapped in antarctic ice issued a distress call Wednesday. The ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy is carrying scientists and other observers as they attempt to retrace the footsteps of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911, and is trapped in ice off the coast of Antarctica about 1,500 nautical miles (1,726 statute miles) from Hobart, Australia, the British newspaper the Guardian reported. Two of the icebreakers, of Chinese and French registry, will take about two days to reach the stranded ship. A third, of Australian registry, is further away, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. "We have everyone safe. The vessel isn't in any immediate danger," said a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The ship, with 48 passengers and 20 crew members aboard, left New Zealand on Dec. 8, and has been making scientific observations to compare how the environment has changed since the 1911 expedition, the newspaper said. "We're currently in heavy ice and we need help to get out," said Chris Tunney, aboard the ship. "It's frustrating. We're only two miles from open water. Everyone is well, on board, and morale is high."