美國破冰船前往營救在南極被困的中俄船隻

A heavy-duty U.S. icebreaker is steaming toward Antarctic waters to assist a Russian research ship trapped in ice since late last month and a Chinese vessel that got stuck offering support during a continuing drama near the South Pole, authorities said during the weekend.

官方上週末稱，美國一艘重型破冰船正前往南極海域，以營救自上月下旬以來一直受浮冰圍困的一艘俄羅斯科考船以及一艘爲援助俄羅斯船而同樣被困的中國船隻。

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, which had been on its way to Antarctica, will steer toward the Russian vessel Akademik Shokalskiy and China's Xue Long, according to statements from U.S. and Australian authorities. The U.S. Coast Guard said its action comes after requests from the Russian, Chinese and Australian governments.

美國和澳大利亞官方發表聲明稱，美國海岸警衛隊(Coast Guard)破冰船“北極星”號(Polar Star)正駛向南極，目標是俄羅斯科考船“紹卡利斯基院士”號(Akademik Shokalskiy)以及中國的“雪龍”號。美國海岸警衛隊稱，此次行動是應俄羅斯、中國和澳大利亞政府的請求。

The entrance of a U.S. vessel, which will need about seven more days to reach the scene, marks the latest international response to an episode that began Dec. 24 some 1,500 nautical miles south of Australia when the Russian vessel, carrying scientists, journalists and tourists, requested help.

“北極星”號還需要大約七天的時間才能抵達相關海域。此次事件始於去年12月24日。當時一艘載有科學家、記者和遊客的俄羅斯船隻在距澳大利亞南部約1,500海里的海域發出求救信號。美國破冰船的介入是國際社會採取的最新應對措施。

After other failed efforts to reach the stranded Russian ship, the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long late last week dispatched its helicopter for a successful rescue of 52 of those aboard the Russian ship. But shortly afterward, Xue Long confirmed that it too was 'beset by ice,' according to the Australian Maritime Safety Administration, which is coordinating the international response.

在其他靠近被困俄羅斯船隻的努力均告失敗之後，中國破冰船“雪龍”號在上週晚些時候派遣直升機，成功解救出俄羅斯船上的52人。但據負責協調此次國際救援的澳大利亞海事安全局(Australian Maritime Safety Administration)稱，此後不久，“雪龍”號證實自己也被浮冰圍困。

Authorities say there is no imminent danger to the Russian ship's 22 crew members and the 101 sailors and scientists aboard China's Xue Long. But thick ice floe complicates prospects to maneuver the vessels, some 21 kilometers from open water.

官方稱，俄羅斯船上的22名船員以及中國“雪龍”號上的101名船員和科研人員目前都沒有危險。但厚重的冰層使得移動船隻變得相當困難，因爲該地點距開闊海域約21公里。

Though somewhat shorter than the Chinese ice-cutter at 122 meters, the Polar Star is the U.S.'s only active polar-capable icebreaker and one of the world's most powerful nonnuclear ships, with an ability to crack though 1.8 meters of ice while moving or more than six meters by ramming, according to the Coast Guard.

美國海岸警衛隊稱，雖然船身長度較中國的“雪龍”號短，只有大約122米，但“北極星”號是美國唯一一艘現役極地破冰船，而且是全球最強大的非核動力船之一，能夠連續破1.8米厚冰，如果用倒車衝擊法，則可破6米厚冰。

After a three-year, $90 million upgrade, Polar Star left its home port in Seattle early last month on its first voyage to Antarctica since 2006, with plans to open a sea route for vessels to supply the U.S. base McMurdo Station.

在接受了爲期三年、耗資9,000萬美元的升級之後，“北極星”號在上個月初離開西雅圖母港，開始了自2006年以來的首次南極之行。該船計劃爲駛向美國南極科研中心麥克默多站(McMurdo Station)的補給船開闢航路。

The difficulties for ships in recent days illustrate the harsh conditions near the South Pole, a region that nevertheless is drawing growing scientific and strategic interest. The Xue Long is taking part in China's effort to build a fourth Antarctic research station, the Taishan, to augment its Great Wall, Zhongshan and Kunlun stations. China says its interest at both poles is scientific and peaceful.

南極科考船近些天來遇到的困難足以說明當地自然條件的嚴酷，但這一地區卻吸引了越來越多的科研和戰略方面興趣。目前中國在南極已設有“長城”、“中山”和“崑崙”三個科學考察站，而“雪龍”號正參與建造中國在南極的第四個科考站“泰山站”。中國稱，中方對南極和北極的興趣都是出於科研及和平目的。

Through the weekend, Chinese state media trumpeted a call by President Xi Jinping for 'all-out efforts to ensure the safety of the staff' aboard the Xue Long. In live Chinese television broadcasts from the bridge, crew members emphasized that they are safe, with food and other supplies that can last months. Chinese authorities said they are working on an unspecified rescue strategy and contingencies, Xinhua news agency said.

整個週末，中國國家媒體都在大力報道國家主席習近平批示將盡全力確保“雪龍”號人員安全的消息。國內電視臺直播了在船的艦樓上進行的報道，船員強調他們處境安全，食物等給養可供幾個月之用。新華社報道說，中國有關部門稱正在制定救援策略和應急預案。

An Australian icebreaker where the previously stranded scientists and tourists are now biding their time was asked Friday night to stand by to offer possible assistance to the Xue Long. On Saturday, authorities said it could depart because the Xue Long faces little immediate danger.

澳大利亞一艘破冰船上週五夜間被要求待命，向“雪龍”號提供可能的援助。此前受困的科學家和遊客們正在這艘破冰船上等待撤離。上週六，有關部門說，澳大利亞破冰船可以離開，因爲“雪龍”號幾乎沒有緊迫的危險。

The Xue Long, which left Shanghai in early November to take part in China's 30th Antarctic scientific expedition, received a formal request on Dec. 31 from the stranded Russian ship, Akademik Shokalskiy, for helicopter assistance to remove the passengers. Previous efforts by Australian and French icebreakers to get near the Akademik Shokalskiy had failed, but after several weather-related delays, the helicopter operation was a success.

“雪龍”號去年11月初離開上海，參加中國的第30次南極科考。12月31日，“雪龍”號接到被困俄羅斯科考船“紹卡利斯基院士”號以直升機撤出乘客的正式請求。此前澳大利亞和法國的破冰船接近“紹卡利斯基院士”號的努力未能獲得成功，但經過幾次因天氣原因導致的延誤後，直升機救援行動終於成功。

Still, the Xue Long appeared to encounter difficulty navigating shortly before its helicopter rescue began on Thursday, with reports from those aboard the Russian vessel suggesting the Chinese ship had become stuck.

不過，在上週四直升機救援行動開始後不久，“雪龍”號自身似乎遇到了困難，“紹卡利斯基院士”號上的人報告說，中國這艘破冰船被困住了。

Though the Australian maritime authority, which coordinates activity in the region, issued a formal denial that the Xue Long was in trouble, the authorities cited ice around the Chinese vessel as a reason to adjust the strategy for the multi-flight rescue.

儘管在當地協調行動的澳大利亞海事安全局發佈了正式聲明，否認“雪龍”號遇到了麻煩，但有關部門說，考慮到中國破冰船周圍的浮冰的原因，需要調整救援策略。

Also, Xue Long Captain Wang Jianzhong said he was working continuously to ensure that the icebreaker wouldn't get trapped in the thick ice, according to a report posted Thursday on the website of China's State Oceanic Administration. The report highlighted particular concern that ice could damage the vessel's propeller and make navigation impossible.

中國國家海洋局網站上週四發表的一篇報道說，“雪龍”號船長王建忠說，他正在持續努力，確保這艘破冰船不會被困在厚冰中。這篇報道着重指出，海冰有可能損傷破冰船的螺旋槳，使得“雪龍”號無法航行。

Built in Ukraine in 1993 as an ice-strengthened cargo ship, the 167-meter-long Xue Long has been making polar research voyages for China since 1994.

“雪龍”號全長167米，是1993年在烏克蘭建成的，具備較強的破冰能力。從1994年開始，“雪龍”號就一直爲中國極地考察執行航行任務。

Capable of cutting through 1.1 meters of ice, it was strengthened and modernized by a Shanghai shipyard in 2007 at a cost of $12.5 million, according to official reports. State-of-the-art satellite-navigation systems were installed, along with 500 square meters of laboratory space and a stronger helipad. Internet capabilities and airplane-type flush toilets were added to the 120 crew rooms.

據官方報道，“雪龍”號具備連續衝破1.1米厚冰層的能力，並於2007年在上海的一家船廠耗資1,250萬美元進行了加固和升級。“雪龍”號配備了先進的衛星導航系統，還有500平方米的實驗室空間，直升機坪也經過加固。“雪龍”號共有120個牀位，能上網，還配備了飛機上的那種沖水衛生間。

A second Chinese icebreaker, being built in China with Finnish assistance, is to be commissioned this year. With two helipads, more laboratory space and an ability to cut through ice 1.5 meters thick, according to Xinhua, the new vessel 'is expected to greatly boost the country's expedition capacities in polar and oceanic regions.'

中國正在芬蘭的幫助下建造另外一艘破冰船，這艘破冰船將於今年開始服役。新華社說，該破冰船有兩塊停機坪，實驗室空間更大，能夠連續衝破1.5米厚的冰層，預計該船將極大提升中國在極地和海洋地區的遠航能力。