The long, international nightmare of the global-warming alarmists trapped in the ice is over:
A helicopter mission to rescue 52 passengers trapped on an icebound Russian research ship in Antarctica was completed last night after a number of false starts and failed icebreaking attempts.
The rescue operation from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy got underway at 6.15pm local time and was completed by 9.45pm.
The Shokalskiy has been trapped in thick pack ice 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont d’Urville since December 24, with several icebreakers forced back to open water by impenetrable floes.
A helicopter rescue was announced on Tuesday, but heavy rain and winds saw it shelved until this morning, when a second attempt was foiled by unfavourable sea ice.
But by late afternoon a favourable window had opened, and expedition leader Chris Turney announced that a helicopter from the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long had arrived at the marooned ship to begin evacuating passengers.
“The Chinese helicopter has arrived at the Shokalskiy. It’s 100 percent we’re off! A huge thanks to all,” Turney tweeted.
As for the crew, however, they’re staying:
The ship’s 22 crew will remain on board until the ice breaks up and the Shokalskiy can sail on under her own steam. She is well provisioned and those on board have not been in any danger.
Now, who pays for the rescue of these idiots?