Passengers and some crew from the ice-bound Russian-flagged research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy will be taken off by helicopter once the Antarctic weather permits.  The ship has been stuck in thick sheets of ice about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart since Christmas Eve.

“A decision has been reached to evacuate 52 passengers and four crew members by helicopter from China's Xue Long ship, should the weather allow,” read a statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

Australia’s Aurora Australis icebreaker failed to reach the stranded vessel, driven back by thick ice and horrible weather that caused poor visibility.  Earlier attempts by Chinese and French icebreakers to reach the ship were also foiled by the thick ice.

There’s 52 passengers and 22 crew on board the Akademik Shokalskiy.  The passengers are mainly Australians, many scientists among them.  They’re continuing to carry out their experiments, measuring temperature and salinity through cracks in the surrounding ice, despite the lousy weather.  The ship is stocked with food and so far is in no danger.