A US ice-breaker will be helping two ships that are stuck in thick ice in Antarctica following a rescue mission.
The Polar Star has been asked to cut a path through the ice in order to free the Xue Long and the Akademik Shokalskiy, the US Coast Guard said.
The Chinese ice-breaker, Xue Long, became ice-bound after helping to rescue 52 passengers stranded on Akademik Shokalskiy on Thursday.
The Russian research vessel has been trapped since 24 December.
The US ice-breaker is responding to requests for assistance from the Australian authorities as well as from the Russian and Chinese governments, according to a statement by US Coast.
The Polar Star is specifically designed for open-water icebreaking, will be leaving Sydney, Australia, on Sunday and is expected to arrive at the stranded ships in a week’s time, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa).
It comes after the Xue Long confirmed it was trapped following a rescue mission to remove passengers on board the Akademik Shokalskiy.