The South Korean ice breaker Araon is back in the country after wrapping up a 173-day expedition in and around the Antarctic.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Wednesday announced the return of the Araon last week. The ice breaker explored the west and south of the Antarctic, including the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea, and conducted joint research on climate change and other South Poll-related topics with foreign research institutes. 

The Araon earned the nickname the “Santa Claus of the Antarctic” after rescuing Sparta, a Russian ship, from icy waters near Antarctica in December 2011. 

It also rescued South Korea’s deep-sea fishing vessel Sun Star that was stranded in the Antarctic Sea last December.