The more than 70 people stranded on the ship stuck in pack ice in Antarctica hope to know this morning what is planned for their rescue.
Bad weather has continually hampered other vessels reaching the Akademic Shokalskiy.
A blizzard halted the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis on Monday and it had to go back to open water.
It got as close as 10 nautical miles before turning back.
Tuesday marks a week since the ship issued its distress call.
Expedition leader Chris Turney has told Radio New Zealand they hope to know on Tuesday morning what will happen next. He says conditions have improved compared with Monday’s foggy weather.