VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Six Russian scientists and six crew members aboard a schooner were rescued on Thursday after the ship broke down in the Laptev Sea.

The schooner, which was carrying a group of scientists from St. Petersburg to the Russian island Belkovsky, was forced to anchor 110 miles (176 kilometers) away from the shore in the early hours of Thursday after its main engine overheated, according to RIA Novosti news agency.

A rescue operation took place in response to the crew's signal for help. All 12 people on board were successfully relocated to a rescue vessel.

In August 2010, a tugboat sank in the Laptev Sea with 14 crew members on board. Only three of them were rescued.