Australia’s research and resupply ship, Aurora Australis, is on its way to assist a Russian-flagged vessel in the Southern Ocean.

MV Akademik Shokalskiy has become trapped in sea ice in the Commonwealth Bay region.

Aurora Australis was undertaking resupply at Casey station around 800 nautical miles away when asked yesterday, by the Australian Marine Safety Authority, to assist.

Two other ships in the area have also been asked to help.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is coordinating search and rescue operations.

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