The Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis, currently carrying passengers rescued from a stricken Antarctic expedition cruise ship, has been told to stand by to assist the Chinese icebreaker, Snow Dragon, as necessary. The icebreaker Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, notified rescue authorities that its crew was concerned about “their ability to move through heavy ice in the area”, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said on Friday afternoon.

Second Antarctic rescue Aurora Australis on standby to free icebreaker