AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre Australia (RCC Australia) remains in regular contact with the vessel, MV Akademik Shokalski, which is experiencing very strong winds and limited visibility. Winds are forecast to abate on Friday (AEDT).
The ship is in the Australian Search and Rescue region, 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont D’Urville and is stable.
Three ships with icebreaking capability are en route to the vessel, including the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) vessel Aurora Australis, following a broadcast to shipping in the area.
The first of the responding vessels is not expected to arrive until at Friday night.
RCC Australia was contacted by the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in the United Kingdom on Christmas (Wednesday) morning Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
The Falmouth MRCC received a distress message via satellite from a Russian flagged vessel, MV Akademik Shokalskiy, with 74 people on board about 7.20am (AEDT).
Further updates will be provided when more information is available.
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