Update to this story.
Via SMH:
Plans to rescue 52 passengers trapped on the stricken Russian research ship Akademik Shokalskiy have been thrown into disarray after the Chinese ice-breaker Xue Long itself became stuck in pack ice, west of the Mertz Glacier.
It is the second vessel to become trapped in the region in less than two weeks.
There were expectations that a helicopter on the Xue Long would today begin ferrying trapped passengers off the Russian ship.
The plan was for them to be transported by barge to the Aurora Australis.
However, alternative rescue plans are being considered after the captain of the Xue Long requested assistance when it became trapped.
Both the Xue Long and the Aurora need to be in open water to conduct the barge operation.