Aurora Australis abandons attempt to save Akademik Shokalskiy in Antarctica

The Akademik Shokalskiy sits stuck in Antarctic ice.
The Akademik Shokalskiy sits stuck in Antarctic ice. Photo: Andrew Peacock/www.footloosefoto

The Aurora Australis has abandoned its first attempt to cut through the ice surrounding the stranded Akademik Shokalskiy in Antarctica after moving just two nautical miles.

About 6am, the Aurora's captain, Murray Doyle, began to manoeuvre the ice-breaker through thick wedges of consolidated sea ice.

All white: A view from the stern of the Aurora Australis as it punches its way through sea ice.
All white: A view from the stern of the Aurora Australis as it punches its way through sea ice. Photo: Colin Cosier

But by 9am (midday Sydney time), the master made the call to turn the ship around and move back into open water.


"There was just nowhere for us to go."

Captain Doyle also feared that the 55-kilometre south-easterly wind running up the ship's stern would blow ice in and around the back of the vessel.



"Having been caught in ice before, I know by experience when to get out. I didn't want to add to the drama, instead of being part of the solution," he said.

A low-hanging fog also hampered rescue efforts.

"We had no visibility so we couldn't really see if there was a way through."


The passengers on the stranded Shokalskiy would most likely be evacuated to the Aurora or Chinese ice-breaker the Xue Long, which was also in the area.

Lots of wind/ snow around our position at Shokalskiy. Still waiting to hear about what happens next, hopefully more details in next 12 hrs

It's so warm, it's actually raining! #spiritofmawson


While the Xue Long had a helicopter on board, it was too heavy for the Aurora's helideck.


"The helicopter wouldn't be able to differentiate the horizon from the ice."

Captain Doyle had informed Shiokalskiy by email and radio of the situation.



The ice-breaker was designed to cut through ice floes of about 1.35 metres, not the thick ice built up in Watt Bay, some of which has grown over several years.

"It wasn't all multi-year ice, there was some first-year ice, which can be thick, especially if it's old first-year ice," he said.



Nicky Phillips and Colin Cosier are travelling on board the Aurora Australis as part of the Australian Antarctic Division's media program.