Rather than the traditional 10-second countdown, they rang in 2014 with a song about their struggle.

They've been stuck for eight days now.

An Australian icebreaker failed to reach them Monday.

Hopeful that a Chinese helicopter from a nearby ship can come to their rescue, they stomp away at the snow and ice to create a makeshift helipad.

Rescuers plan to move all 52 passengers, many of them Australian, to the Chinese vessel, weather permitting.

The Russian crew will stay on board.