Russian cruise ship breaks free from ice trap

VLADIVOSTOK. November 20. KAZINFORM. A Russian icebreaker with over a hundred passengers onboard succeeded to break free from an ice trap in Antarctica and is heading for the port of Ushuaia in Argentina; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.

It will take The Captain Khlebnikov three days to sail 780 miles to the port, spokeswoman of the Fareastern Shipping Company Tatyana Kulikova told Tass on Friday.

The icebreaker brought tourists and scientists to see emperor penguins in Antarctica, but got trapped in pack ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea. The vessel was scheduled to return to Ushuaia five days ago, but had to struggle for four days through several miles of pack ice to clear water.

A half of the tourists are British, including a BBC team shooting the Frozen Planet documentary; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.