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U.S. Air Force pictures show the plight of the Russian fishing vessel, Sparta, whose hull has been holed in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, on Friday.
Most of the 32 crew have left the ship and are sheltering in lifeboats alongside.
A skeleton crew remains on board to try to save the vessel which was listing at a 13 degree angle.
They're preparing to patch up the hole but that can only happen after the ship's load is lightened to correct the list.
A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules flew over the area on Friday to check the ship's condition and navigate a route for rescue vessels.
Rescue ships are on the way but will still take several days to reach the Sparta.
A Royal New Zealand Defence Force aircraft was preparing to take off from Christchurch with pumps, pipes and fuel for the stricken ship.
The 30-centimetre hole in the Sparta's hull is suspected to have been caused by hitting ice.
