The Rescuers (not the Disney mice)

If this was a scene from a comedy, it would be indescribably lame, but as it has happened in real life, it takes on the mantle of an amusement factor.  The Russian-owned research vessel Akademick Shokalskiy was ferrying a group of tourists in commemoration of the centenary of the Antarctic journey made by Douglas Mawson.  Remembering Ernest Shackleton would have been more appropriate as their ship got stuck in pack ice (it's never really a good sign though being south of Australia on a Russian-owned research vessel - see the B-movie Virus featuring, among others, Donald Sutherland).  Never fear, a Chinese icebreaker steamed to the rescue, helicoptering the passengers off (the crew have to stay behind) and on to the awaiting Australian ship, Aurora Australis.  Having achieved this, the icebreaker, Snow Dragon, itself was trapped in the unseasonal summer ice, having all the cutting power of butter through a blowtorch (unlit) rather than vice versa.  What a ridiculous situation.  When ever spying powers are increased by law or through extra-judicial means, the phrase that gets trotted out is "Who will watch the watchers?"  Here though it is turned on its head, from omnipotent to helpless, as who will rescue the rescuers?