air lift passengers. problem is that may not happen anytime soon. now after spending christmas on board that ship, they will ring in the new year as well. matthew chance live in london with the latest. good morning, matthew. >> reporter: good morning, john. that's right. they'll be bringing in the new year. they've posted video messages of themselves preparing for the new years celebrations. there is a new plan, you're absolutely right. it's the only plan that's going to work according to the rescue officials. they've abandoned all the attempts to reach that stranded research vessel by sea with ice breakers. instead they'll stand back, send in a helicopter. they can only do that once weather conditions allow. this morning, new video, dozens of passengers walking arm in arm doing what they can to speed their rescue. >> we've just learned the aurora can't reach us. we're preparing the helipad by getting the team to stomp down in the snow and ice so the