The effort to rescue 52 passengers on board a research ship trapped in Antarctica ice for nine days has been a success, with a helicopter from the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon ferrying people in small groups from the ice-bound ship, Akademik Shokalskiy, to an Australian Antarctic supply ship, the Aurora Australis.

The rescue ends and ordeal for the passengers that began Christmas Eve after the Russian-flagged ship got stuck in extraordinarily thick ice. Everyone on board was reportedly in good condition and weren't in any immediate danger on the ship.

Officials abandoned a succession of other rescue attempts in recent days because of the treacherous conditions in the region.

Earlier today, Australian authorities said a plan involving the helicopter and a barge was held up because of shifting ice conditions.

Then a different approach, which skipped the use of a barge altogether, got under way later in the day.

Chris Turney, leader of the private expedition, posted videos showing the helicopter landing on a makeshift helipad on the ice near the stranded ship -- and then lifting off.

"We've made it to the Aurora Australis safe & sound," Turney also said via Twitter.

Robert Darvill, chief mate on the Aurora Australis, said in an interview with CNN that the rescued passengers were very happy to be on board his vessel and kept thanking the icebreaker's crew for their assistance.

The ship's 22 crew members have said in media reports they plan on staying with the well-stocked Akademik Shokalskiy until it is freed from the ice.

The Russian-owned research ship left New Zealand in the end of November to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a journey led by Australian Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson.

The ship, however became stuck approximately 100 nautical miles east of French Antarctic station Dumont D'Urville and about 1,500 nautical miles south of Tasmania, Australia's southern island.

A Chinese ship got within visual distance of the Akademik Shokalskiy Dec. 28, but had to turn back after it wasn't able to break through the ice, estimated to be more than 10 feet thick in some areas.

Two other vessels, the Aurora Australis and a French flagged ship, also tried to help the trapped ship earlier, but also failed due to strong winds and heavy snow.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is coordinating the rescue, had announced earlier today that the rescue had been thwarted again by the ice and bad weather.