Update: Australian Icebreaker Still Aground in Antarctica

Australia’s flagship icebreaker Aurora Australis has run aground in Antarctica after it breaking free from its moorings on the Mawson station throughout a blizzard.

The Australian Antarctic Division studies {that a} whole of 67 passengers and crew on board are secure and the ship stays watertight with harm to the hull of the vessel.

Blizzard situations precipitated the Aurora Australis to interrupt free from its mooring strains at 3:15 p.m. AEDT (9:15am Mawson time), and the ship is at the moment aground at West Arm in Horseshoe Harbour. The blizzard has hampered a full evaluation of the harm, and the crew are intently monitoring the hull from contained in the ship.

Sustained winds of greater than 130 km/h (80 mph) have been recorded on the Mawson station automated climate station main as much as the incident. Blizzard situations are forecast to proceed for the subsequent 24 hours, the Antarctic Division stated.

The Australian Antarctic Division is working intently with P&O Maritime Services, proprietor of the Aurora Australis, to make sure the security of all passengers and crew as a precedence.

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 Antarctic Division says extra info will likely be launched because it turns into accessible.

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.