South African explorers moving towards Magdalena Oldendorf with Russian polar explorers on board

The South African vessel S.A.Agalas will approach the edge of the ice field beyond which lies the German vessel Magdalena Oldendorf with Russian polar explorers on board, in the morning of Tuesday, June 25th, or a day before planned. This is stated in a press-release from the rescuers' headquarters in Capetown.

The weather conditions have allowed the Agalas to increase her cruiser speed which in the last three days ranged from 11 to 15 knots an hour. In the middle of last week strong winds and the stormy ocean forced the vessel to keep her cruiser speed within the limits of 7 to 8 knots.

According to weather forecasts, the Agalas will be able, by itself, to approach the Magdalena to a distance of 180 nautical miles (1 nautical mile equals 1,851 km) which will enable the South African rescuers to start evacuating the polar explorers and the German team members from the German ship.

In case some difficulties arise with passage through the ice fields surrounding the Magdalena, they will be helped by the Argentinian ice-breaker Almirante Irizar. According to the latest information, she is to leave the port of Buenos Aires on Tuesday, June 25th, to meet Agalas.