Russian icebreaker Captain Khlebnikov, which was trapped in ice in Antarctica on Friday, has started to move again after five days.

Tour leader Paul Goldstein said they expected to be back in the open sea in the next couple of days.

A total of 105 tourists were aboard the icebreaker with each paying up to £10,000 ($16,816) for the tour on which they will see rare Emperor penguins off the Antarctic coast.

Russian news agencies said a BBC camera crew filming a documentary about the Antarctic was among the passengers.

"They are implementing the tour program in full," said German Kuzin of the Fareastern Shipping Company. "The captain reported that the situation on board is normal."

The cruise was advertised as a unique opportunity to watch Emperor penguins in their natural habitat. The Finnish-built icebreaker has been used as a cruise ship for several years and carries two helicopters.

Natalie Amos, a spokeswoman for holiday tour operator Exodus Travel, said there were 51 British tourists among the ship's 105 passengers. The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with the expedition organizers.

Paul Goldstein, a guide and photographer with Exodus, told the BBC that those on board were coping well and the ship was now moving again.

HSH/AKM