Antarctic ship: 'Spirits are high' on board the Academic Shokalskiy

A Chinese icebreaker is expected to reach a scientific mission ship trapped in dense pack ice off East Antarctica since Christmas Day.

The Snow Dragon icebreaker will try to cut a path through the ice so the research vessel Academic Shokalskiy can reach open waters.

Professor Chris Turney, who is leading the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, told BBC News that "spirits are very high" on board.