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Helicopter Rescue For All Passengers Aboard Antarctic Research Ship

Posted by timothy on from the who-pays-for-all-that-rescuing? dept.

The BBC reports (with video) that all aboard the ice-trapped MV Akademik Shokalskiy have been rescued by helicopter, after more than one icebreaker attempt to reach the vessel directly proved too challenging. Also at the New York Times, which reports "The twin-rotored helicopter, based on a Chinese icebreaker, the Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, flew several sorties across miles of packed ice to pluck scientists, tourists and journalists from a makeshift landing zone next to the marooned MV Akademik Shokalskiy research vessel."

2 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Re:But don't worry by amorsen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Absolutely agreed. You could pretty much replace "helicopter" with "nuclear ice breaker capable of sailing in practically any ice" and there would have been nothing for me to gripe about. Although the existing nuclear ice breakers are all in the Arctic and allegedly cannot cross the tropics under their own steam due to insufficient cooling.

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  2. Re:Maybe off topic here, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The rescuers pay for the cost of the rescues. Rescues at sea are a no-cost agreement under maritime conventions and traditions.

    Some US politicians raised questions about this practice after costly rescue operations for Carnival cruise ships last year.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/carnival-u-s-won-reimbursed-triumph-costs-article-1.1315792