China's research icebreaker Xuelong-2 rescued four stranded Papua New Guinean fishermen in the open sea near the equator. Their fishing boat ran out of fuel and battery power and had been adrift at sea for nine hours when it was discovered by the Chinese research vessel. The boat and its crew were tugged for 33 hours to a rendezvous point and handed over to a waiting local vessel. Xuelong-2, together with another icebreaker, Xuelong and cargo vessel Tianhui, are currently on a scientific research mission which is expected to last over five months. The 460-person team on-board the science ship will investigate the impact of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem, as well as Antarctica's role in climate change overall.