A US ice-breaker is to help two ships that are stuck in thick ice in Antarctica following a rescue mission. The US Coast Guard said in a statement that the Polar Star has been asked to cut a path through the ice in order to free the Xue Long and the Akademik Shokalskiy.

It said the US ice-breaker is responding to requests for assistance from the Australian authorities as well as from the Russian and Chinese governments. The Chinese boat, Xue Long, became ice-bound after helping to rescue 52 passengers stranded on Akademik Shokalskiy on Thursday. The Russian research vessel has been trapped since 24 December.