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A cruise ship was trapped in thick sea ice on Saturday whereas crusing close to Antarctica.
The Scenic Eclipse II turned caught whereas crusing by the Ross Sea. It requested help after it was unable to interrupt by the encircling pack ice, the U.S. Coast Guard mentioned in a press launch.
In footage shared by a member of the Coast Guard, USCGC Polar Star is seen breaking up thick ice because it approaches the stranded vessel.
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After reaching the ship’s location, the Coast Guard icebreaker made a number of shut passes by the encircling ice to loosen the frozen pack.
The Coast Guard mentioned the Scenic Eclipse II contacted the icebreaker late Friday evening after turning into trapped roughly eight miles from McMurdo Sound.
A cruise ship was trapped in thick sea ice in Antarctica’s Ross Sea on Saturday and required help from the U.S. Coast Guard. (SWNS)
As soon as freed, the cruise ship was escorted a number of miles to open water to make sure it might safely proceed its voyage.
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The Scenic Eclipse II can carry as much as 228 visitors and 176 crew members, in keeping with the cruise line’s web site, with diminished passenger capability throughout Antarctic sailings.
The Coast Guard arrived to assist the Scenic Eclipse II after it turned trapped about eight miles from McMurdo Sound. (SWNS)
The Coast Guard mentioned there have been no reported accidents and the vessel was capable of resume its journey.
“As a result of modifications within the pack ice, progress was slower than deliberate, and the captain requested help from the close by vessel USCG Polar Star to clear the realm collectively and keep away from an extended crusing interval at diminished velocity. The next day, the pure motion of the ice had opened up once more, and circumstances had normalized,” Scenic Group informed Fox Information Digital.
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The cruise line famous the second was memorable — with champagne served on the Commentary Deck.
“We have been grateful for the professionalism and cooperation of the crew of USCG Polar Star throughout our operations within the Ross Sea. Whereas Scenic Eclipse II was by no means in want of rescue providers, the coordination between each vessels ensured we might navigate the altering pack ice safely and effectively,” mentioned Captain James Griffiths, Scenic Group’s basic supervisor of ocean operations.
The rescue coincided with a milestone for the Coast Guard vessel — which marked its fiftieth 12 months of commissioned service on the identical day it assisted the cruise ship.
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“At 50 years outdated, Polar Star stays the world’s most succesful non-nuclear icebreaker,” mentioned Commander Samuel Blase, Polar Star’s government officer.
The help got here on the identical day the Coast Guard vessel celebrated 50 years of commissioned service, the Coast Guard mentioned. (SWNS)
Based mostly in Seattle, the Polar Star is the US’ solely lively heavy icebreaker, in keeping with the Coast Guard.
Commissioned in 1976, the vessel is powered by a number of high-output engines that give it the flexibility to interrupt by miles of thick Antarctic ice.
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The Coast Guard mentioned Polar Star conducts annual missions to McMurdo Station in Antarctica as a part of Operation Deep Freeze, breaking by miles of ice that may attain as much as 21 ft thick.