Passengers prepare to leave the ship (via Twitter/@Guardianus

On Christmas Eve, the ship was unable to move from the thick ice surrounding the Antarctic coast. After 10 days, the passengers have finally been rescued via Chinese helicopters landing near the stranded ship.

Those aboard the ship include scientists, journalists and tourists that were on the expedition for research purposes. 

However, the ship's 22 crew members have been ordered to stay aboard until the ice breaks up so that they can lead the boat to safety. 

Previously, Chinese and Australian ships tried to rescue the passengers, but became stuck in thick ice as well. 

The helicopters have taken the passengers to a nearby ship, which will then transport them to Australia. The expedition is expected to take weeks. 

The ice pack that halted the ship is due in part to temperatures surrounding Antarctica, which have dropped to -135.8 Degrees.

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