More help is on the way for the crew of the Sparta.
A Hercules is due to leave Christchurch at 8am, to deliver more equipment to the stricken Russian fishing vessel.
Rescue Coordination Centre spokesman Kevin Banaghan says the supplies will be dropped onto a large ice shelf, which thevessel is tied to.
He says an icebreaker is expected to arrive on Monday morning.
"Once it arrives, it'll break the ice around the vessel, they have to pump the fuel from the Sparta across to the research vessel which will in actual fact lift the Sparta above the water line,'' he says.
Mr Banaghan says the Sparta will then be tipped to one side to complete the patch-up of the hole, before following the icebreaker back to New Zealand for full repairs.
