Russian ship free of Antarctic ice trap

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A Russian cruise ship called The Captain Khlebnikov has broken free of an ice trap in Antarctica and is headed to Argentina, a shipping official said Friday.

Farestern Shipping Company spokeswoman Tatyana Kulikova told ITAR-Tass the Russian vessel is traveling 780 miles to the Argentine port of Ushuaia after freeing itself from the ice trap near Antarctica's Snow Hill Island.

Kulikova said the vessel, which was carrying tourists and scientists as part of an emperor penguin sight-seeing tour in Antarctica, has been mired in pack ice for four days.

The shipping spokeswoman said those on board the vessel were never in danger and were taken on helicopter tours of the surrounding area during the travel delay.

ITAR-Tass said among those on the Russian icebreaker is a BBC crew filming footage for the new documentary, "Frozen Planet."