Two final helicopter flights on Monday, from the polar supply ship SA Agulhas to the Magdalena Oldendorff, trapped in Antarctic pack ice, will rescue the eight Russian scientists and 11 ”non-essential” crew left on board.
SA Agulhas’ captain Kevin Tate said the final flights would go ahead provided the weather held out.
The two Oryx helicopters aboard the SA Agulhas last week rescued 71 scientists and crew members.
The Magdalena Oldendorff was returning from a supply mission to the Russian Antarctic bases of Novolazarevskaia and Mirniy when she was caught in thickening pack ice about 300km north of Queen Maude Land earlier this month.
Meanwhile the Master of the Magdalena reported improving weather conditions with wind speeds dropping from 64 knots to 24 knots.
The Magdalena Oldendorff is in a relatively safe position in the Bay of Muskegbukta. The spirits of the remaining passengers and crew were very high, Tate said.
Six helicopter flights were completed by Friday and a total of 71 scientists had been safety airlifted to the Magdalena Oldendorff. A total of 2 000kg of food supplies had also been transferred to the vessel.
The Argentinian icebreaker Almirante Irizar, which left Bahia Blance on Friday, is expected to rendezvous with the SA Agulhas on July 7 when attempts will be made to cut a path through the ice to free the Magdalena Oldendorff. – Sapa