( CNN ) -- The Chinese icebreaker that sent out a helicopter on Thursday to airlift dozens of passengers from a ship stuck in the Antarctic ice is now beset by ice and unable to move , according to Australian Maritime Safety Agency ( AMSA ) . The captain of the Xue Long told AMSA that his ship is safe , has plenty of food and supplies and will not need assistance at this time . The Australian icebreaker , the Aurora Australis , which is carrying the rescued passengers , was placed on standby in case the Xue Long needs help . But the captains of both the Xue Long and the Russian-flagged MV Akadmik Shokalskiy agreed they no longer need the Aurora Australis . They said they will be able to provide mutual support to each other . AMSA released the Aurora Australis from search and rescue and the vessel now continues to make its passage with the freed passengers to the Casey base to complete a resupply . The Chinese ship plans to try to get out of the thick ice early Saturday at a point when tidal conditions are most favorable , according to AMSA . The Chinese vessel 's struggle comes the day after its helicopter ferried all 52 passengers from an ice-locked Akadmik Shokalskiy to the Aurora Australis . The Akademik Shokalskiy had been trapped in unusually deep ice since Christmas Eve with scientists , journalists , tourists and crew members on board . The rescued passengers , most of them Australians , will still have a lengthy wait before they return home . Officials say they estimate the Aurora Australis will get the group back to the Australian mainland by mid-January . The 22 Russian crew members remain on the Akademik Shokalskiy , waiting for the ice to shift and allow the ship to break free .
NEW : Xue Long icebreaker is beset by ice and ca n't move . Chinese ship 's helicopter helped rescue 52 passengers Thursday . Xue Long 's captain says no assistance is needed and vessel will try to break free . Australian icebreaker carrying the rescued people chugs toward base .