US Coast Guard Rescues Scenic Cruise Ship Trapped In Antarctic Ice | Video

Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 14:46 IST

Australian-owned Scenic Eclipse II was on a voyage in the Ross Sea near Antarctica's McMurdo Sound. 

Scenic Eclipse II was on a voyage in the Ross Sea near McMurdo Sound.

The US Coast Guard rescued a luxury cruise ship after it got trapped in ice during a voyage to Antarctica. The captain of the Australian-owned cruise ship, Scenic Eclipse II, contacted the Polar Star, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, for assistance after becoming beset in pack ice as the ship was not an icebreaker.

As per the official statement, Scenic Eclipse II was on a voyage in the Ross Sea near Antarctica’s McMurdo Sound. The vessel, which departed Hobart, Australia, on January 6, was freed on January 17 and continued her voyage with minimal disruption.

Video from the US Coast Guard vessel, a heavy icebreaker, shows it cutting a path in the ice for the cruise ship’s exit. As per the official statement, it escorted the Scenic Eclipse II four nautical miles until it reached open water.

Scenic Group also issued a statement detailing the incident and said, “On January 17, 2026, Scenic Eclipse II was on a voyage in the Ross Sea near McMurdo Sound. Due to changes in the pack ice, progress was slower than planned, and the Captain requested assistance from the nearby vessel USCG Polar Star to clear the area together and avoid a longer sailing period at reduced speed. The following day, the natural movement of the ice had opened up again, and conditions had normalized."

Scenic Group’s General Manager Ocean Operations, Captain James Griffiths, expressed gratitude and said, ““We were grateful for the professionalism and cooperation of the crew of USCG Polar Star during our operations in the Ross Sea."

News world US Coast Guard Rescues Scenic Cruise Ship Trapped In Antarctic Ice | Video

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