A Russian research vessel and Chinese icebreaker stuck in Antarctic ice have broken free and no longer need to be rescued by the United States, Australian officials said Wednesday. The Russian-owned vessel Akademik Shokalskiy became trapped on Dec. 24, about 2,250 miles south of Tasmania, Australia. The icebreaker meant to rescue passengers from the Russian ship found itself stuck in heavy ice last Friday. Australian officials then asked the U.S. Coast Guard to assist, but the American vessel stood down late Tuesday after both the trapped ships finally emerged from the ice sheet.
