The rescue of passengers of the Russian ship Akademik Shokalsky, stuck in the Antarctic, has started, as a Chinese helicopter has reached the stranded crew. The operation follows several failed evacuation attempts.

A total of 52 scientists and tourists are being transported to an ice flow adjacent to the Australian icebreaker the Aurora Australis, and then taken by a small boat to the Australian ship, according to expedition leader Chris Turney. 

"I think everyone is relieved and excited to be going on to the Australian icebreaker and then home," AP reported Turney as saying.

It was initially thought the Shokalsky passengers would be first transferred by helicopter to the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon, and then taken to the Australian icebreaker. The change of plans occurred due to sea ice conditions which jeopardized the whole rescue operation, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said earlier Thursday. 

"Current sea ice conditions prevent the barge from Aurora Australis from reaching the Chinese vessel Xue Long (Snow Dragon) and a rescue may not be possible today," the agency’s statement read, Reuters reported. 

The rescue operation now under way will likely consist of seven return helicopter flights. Five of them will carry passengers, as the helicopter can only take 12 people at a time, while two more flights will be for transporting scientific equipment. Onboard the Aurora, the Shokalsky passengers will arrive by mid-January to the Australian island state of Tasmania.

Twenty-two members of the Shokalsky’s crew are to stay on the ship, which is not believed to be in danger and will wait for more favorable weather conditions to continue its voyage.

The rescue operation now under way was preceded by three icebreakers’ failed attempts to make their way to the stranded Akademik Shokalsky. The Chinese Snow Dragon, the French L'Astrolabe, sent from the nearby Antarctic base, Dumont D'Urville, and the Australian Aurora Australis, all failed to crack through the thick layer of ice surrounding the Shokalsky. Chris Turney, an Australian professor leading the expedition, said the ice around the trapped ship was 3 meters thick. 

Snow showers, strong winds and poor visibility were among other factors which prevented the other vessels from reaching the Shokalsky. 

The Russian ship left New Zealand on Nov. 28 with 74 people on board for a privately-funded research expedition to celebrate the 100th anniversary of an Antarctic journey led by Australian explorer Douglas Mawson. The ship was originally scheduled to return to New Zealand on Jan. 4. 

The Shokalsky crew’s plan to visit inaccessible Antarctic huts eventually resulted in it being trapped in the thick ice on Christmas Eve.

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