Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed this week that an Australian icebreaker had suspended efforts to try reached a ship carrying at least 74 people in Antarctica due to bad weather, according to CNN.
The Aurora Australis turned around after getting around 10 nautical miles of the research ship Akademik Shokalskiy.
The ship hasn't moved since sending out a distress signal on Dec. 25, according to Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
"The area where the MV Akademik Shokalskiy is beset by ice is currently experiencing winds of up to 30 knots and snow showers," said the maritime authority said this week, according to CNN. "These weather conditions have resulted in poor visibility and made it difficult and unsafe for the Aurora Australis to continue. Further attempts may be made by the vessel in due course to undertake the rescue once weather conditions improve."
The bad weather has prevented any rescue effort from happening near the Chinese icebreaker known as Xue Long.
The icebreaker supposedly carries a helicopter that could be accessed to get passengers off the Akademik Shokalskiy safely, according to CNN.
"At this time, it is also unsafe to attempt to launch the helicopter from the Chinese vessel," said the maritime society.
The people aboard the ship have been in "regular contact" with authorities since being stranded last week. Those on board have "several weeks" worth of supplies according to the maritime safety authority.
The researchers were in the middle of an expedition to figure out the effects of climate change on the nearby region. Their first expedition started on Nov. 27, and the second leg of their expedition started Dec. 8.
"The vessel is fine, it's safe and everyone on board is very well," said Chris Turney, an Australian professor of climate change at the University of New South Wales said, according to CNN. "Morale is really high."
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