Farewell to the Aurora Australis, AKA Orange Roughy

Australia’s only home-built icebreaker will soon leave their shores. The icebreaker Aurora Australis, affectionately nicknamed Orange Roughy, is ending her more than thirty-year career serving Australia. Launched at Carrington Slipways in New South Wales in 1989, the ship helped Australia … Continue reading

USCGC Polar Star Heading to Rescue Ice-bound Ships

The USCGC Polar Star is on its way to attempt to break free two ice-bound ship off Antarctica.   So far, three icebreakers have attempted to free the the MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck in Antarctic ice south of Tasmania … Continue reading

Aurora Australis Standing By As Snow Dragon May Now Be Stuck in Ice

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 … Continue reading

Passengers Airlifted from Icebound MV Akademik Shokalskiy

All 52 passengers have been airlifted from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy by a helicopter from the Chinese Icebreaker Xue Long or Snow Dragon.  The passengers were ferried to the Australian ice breaker Aurora Australis.  Both icebreakers had attempted, but failed, to break through the … Continue reading

MV Akademik Shokalskiy Still Stuck — Third Icebreaker, Aurora Australis, Turns Back

We posted recently about the Chinese icebreaker,  Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, which came within about 6 miles of the expedition cruise ship, MV Akademik Shokalskiy, before being forced to turn back. MV Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped in pack ice off Antarctica south … Continue reading

Icebreaker Snow Dragon Now Stuck in Ice, Six Miles from MV Akademik Shokalskiy

The Chinese icebreaker Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, has gotten to within around 6-7 miles of the expedition cruise ship,  MV Akademik Shokalskiy, before it too was stopped by thick ice off the coast of Antarctica, south of Tasmania. Three icebreakers … Continue reading