Antarctic rescue mission goes awry PT1M16S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-302my 620 349 December 30, 2013 - 5:21PM Fearing it would become entrapped by deadly sea ice, the crew of the Aurora Australis have abandoned their rescue mission of the Akademik Shokalskiy in Antarctica. A new strategy to free the stricken vessel and its passengers will be developed on Tuesday. The Australian icebreaker came within 11 nautical miles of the trapped Russian vessel before abandoning its mission. More than 70 scientists, explorers and tourists from Australia and New Zealand have been stuck on the ship since Christmas Eve. Closing in: View from the stern of the Aurora Australis before it abandoned its rescue attempt. The Akademik Shokalskiy had been on the Spirit of Mawson voyage, retracing Sir Douglas Mawson's Antarctic expedition. Aurora Australis arrived near the Antarctic coast at 2am Sydney time on Monday in a bid to break through the pack ice surrounding Akademik Shokalskiy. Aurora Australis' captain, Murray Doyle, said his ship's master made the call to turn the ship around and move back into open water about midday Australian time. Abandoned ship: The Akademik Shokalskiy remains trapped in pack ice while rescuers consider their options. "The ice became too thick for us to penetrate," he said. I didn't want to add to the drama, instead of being part of the solution. The passengers on the Akademik Shokalskiy would likely be evacuated to the Aurora or Chinese icebreaker the Xue Long, which was also in the area. "It's now up to us three ships to agree on a [rescue] strategy," Captain Doyle said. Although the Xue Long had a helicopter aboard, it was too heavy for the Aurora's helideck. Captain Doyle had informed the Akademik Shokalskiy by email and radio of the situation. The icebreaker was designed to cut through ice floes of about 1.35 metres, not the thick ice built up in Watt Bay,which is not far from the the stricken vessel, some of which has grown over several years. Nicky Phillips and Colin Cosier are travelling on board the Aurora Australis as part of the Australian Antarctic Division's media program.