The incident took place on January 17 in the Ross Sea and involved the Scenic Eclipse II, a modern expedition vessel operated by the company Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours.
The ship, navigating through Antarctic waters, lost its maneuverability after getting stuck in compact ice, prompting a distress call. In response, the US Coast Guard deployed the USCGC Polar Star, currently the most powerful icebreaker in service. The rescue footage shows the Polar Star advancing slowly but with immense force, breaking through the ice to reach the immobilized cruise ship.
Surrounded by an extreme and silent environment, the Scenic Eclipse II remained stationary as the ice began to give way. The ship has a capacity for 228 passengers and 176 crew members, some of whom pay tens of thousands of euros for these exclusive trips. Ultimately, the icebreaker managed to open a corridor of free water that allowed the cruise ship to continue its journey and safely leave the risk area, with no reported injuries.