Passengers stranded on a scientific expedition ship off Antarctica are expected to be airlifted off the vessel on Wednesday but it could be several weeks before they set foot on dry land.
A helicopter on board the nearby Chinese icebreaker ship Xue Long will be used to evacuate 52 of the 74 people who have been trapped on the Akademik Shokalskiy since Christmas Eve when it became stuck in deep pack ice.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the rescue will be a complex operation involving a number of steps.
"The helicopter is unable to fly in the current weather conditions and will hold off on the rescue until conditions improve," AMSA said in a statement.
"Weather conditions are unlikely to start improving until tomorrow (Wednesday) and decisions related to carrying out the rescue may be made at short notice."
They will then be transferred via barge to the Aurora Australis rescue icebreaker, which was forced to retreat from its rescue attempt in the face of freezing winds and snow showers.
AMSA emergency response division general manager John Young said the Aurora Australis will then make a several-day journey to the Casey Base in Antarctica to refuel before returning to Hobart.
"It will be a couple of weeks before they are landed," Mr Young said.
On Tuesday morning, Professor Chris Turney, who is leading the expedition, tweeted that passengers and crew members would be helicoptered out after it stopped raining.
"Aurora can't make it through. Looks like we're going to be helicoptered out. Just need a clear weather window. Raining!" Prof Turney posted.
Thick ice had earlier prevented both Xue Long and a French icebreaker from reaching the stranded crew.
Mr Young said passengers will be moved on foot from the Akademik Shokalskiy to a makeshift helipad created on the ice near where the ship is stranded.
The ship's crew will remain on the vessel in the hope that changing weather conditions will allow it get out of the ice field.
