The Scenic Eclipse II had to call on the help of Us Coast Guard, Polar Star, to help after it became trapped in pack ice in the Ross Sea
The Scenic Eclipse II had to be cracked free from pack ice in Antarctica (Image: O2C Christopher Bokum/USCG / SWNS)
A cruise ship was rescued by a 50-year-old US Coast Guard vessel after it reportedly became trapped in pack ice in Antarctica – as those onboard sipped Champagne and watched the action.
The Scenic Eclipse II sent a distress call out at around 11pm local time on Friday, January 16, after it became stranded in the Ross Sea near McMurdo Sound, approximately 810 miles from the South Pole, it has been reported.
The cruiser liner – which was launched in 2023 and carries 200 guests and around the same number of crew in 114 suites – was freed by the coast guard and escorted for four hours to open water, Cruise Industry News reported.
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Its passengers were given Champagne and guided onto the observation deck so they could get a first-hand view as the ice was cleared.
The ship and its passengers are currently on a 23-day one-way trip from Hobart, Tasmania, in Australia to Dunedin in New Zealand, calling in at the Balleny Islands and Ross Island in Antarctica on the way.
As a Polar Class 6 vessel, Scenic Eclipse II is well able to handle Antarctic ice, but due to pack changes during the day, the captain requested help to avoid a longer sailing pace at a reduced speed.
The natural movement of the ice changed the following day and the ship was able to carry on as normal. According to a Jan. 23 press release detailing the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard helped “free and escort” the cruise ship that was “trapped in pack ice.”
Thanking the USCG Polar Star for their help, Captain James Griffiths, Scenic Group’s General Manager Ocean Operations said: “ We were grateful for the professionalism and co-operation of the crew of USCG Polar Star during our operations in the Ross Sea. While Scenic Eclipse II was never in need of rescue services, the co-ordination between both vessels ensured we could navigate the changing pack ice safely and efficiently.
“This is a great example of the practical, respectful co-operation that exists in the polar regions, where safety, seamanship and shared responsibility always come first.”
The Polar Star is the USA’s only active heavy icebreaker and has been in service for five decades.
Commander. Samuel Blase, Polar Star’s executive officer said: “At 50 years old, Polar Star remains the world’s most capable non-nuclear icebreaker. That’s a testament to the crews that have maintained it over the decades. With years of service left to give, Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future.”
Despite passengers paying large sums of money to travel to the world’s least visited continent, Antarctica cruise lines rarely give detailed itineraries as the harsh weather conditions and propensity of the sea to suddenly freeze means they are difficult to stick to.
Scenic has been contacted for comment.