An icebreaker named 'Snow Dragon' has drawn close to a ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice since Christmas Eve, raising hopes of rescue.
The Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy got stuck in the ice on December 24. The ship wasn't in danger of sinking, and there were ample supplies for the 74 scientists, tourists and crew on board, but the vessel simply couldn't move.
Three icebreakers have been trying to reach the ship since authorities received the vessel's distress signal on Wednesday. By Friday afternoon, China's Snow Dragon had made it to the edge of the sea ice surrounding the ship, 20 kilometers (12 miles) away.
But expedition leader Chris Turney says it could still be another day before the Snow Dragon reaches the ship.