Australia’s strongest icebreaker Aurora Australis stays aground in Antarctica close to Mawson station after the ship broke free from its moorings throughout a blizzard on Wednesday. 

All 68 expeditioners and crew stay on board and are protected and properly, an replace from Australia’s Antarctic Division stated. The expeditioners are anticipated to be transferred to Mawson analysis station as soon as situations enable. 

Blizzard situations continued on Thursday however are forecast to ease in a single day, the Antarctic Division stated. 

The crew of the Aurora Australis has found a breach within the hull right into a ballast tank. The breach occurred in an space of the ship that poses no threat to the soundness of the vessel or of gas leaking into the surroundings, the Antarctic Division stated. The crew continues to watch the hull.

Attempts to refloat the vessel will happen as soon as the climate situations ease. Owner P&O Maritime has stated it can take a minimal of three days for the ship’s crew to finish a full evaluation of the ship as soon as the vessel is afloat once more, and makes an attempt to return the ship to service will comply with the completion of this evaluation.

It is unknown if the ship will have the ability to full its unique voyage, however the Antarctic Division says it has been engaged on a variety of contingency plans.

The Aurora Australis broke freed from its mooring traces at 3:15 p.m. AEDT Wednesday (09:15 a.m. Mawson time) throughout a blizzard, with sustained winds of greater than 130 km/h (80 mph)  The ship is aground at West Arm in Horseshoe Harbour. 

Blizzard situations yesterday night at Mawson station. Updates: https://t.co/2Ly7Pzqw7Q pic.twitter.com/XmlqY8kfD2

— Antarctic Division (@AusAntarctic) February 25, 2016

The Antarctic Division is receiving help from the U.S. Antarctic program to move expeditioners who have been ready at Davis analysis station to return residence aboard the Aurora Australis after the summer time season. In the approaching days, a U.S. LC130 plane will transfer greater than 30 expeditioners from Davis analysis station to Casey analysis station, to be flown residence on the Australian Antarctic Division’s A319 airbus. 

The Aurora Australis departed Hobart on January 11, 2016 and has been endeavor marine science across the Kerguelen Plateau area. It arrived at Mawson for a resupply mission on Saturday, February twentieth.

The 3,911 tonne Aurora Australia is designed as a multi-purpose analysis and resupply ship able to breaking ice as much as 1.2 meters thick. The ship is 94.9 meters lengthy.