The Australian Government reported that the final voyage for Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker RSV Aurora Australis began, as the vessel departed from Hobart for sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.
The vessel will conduct its last trip which will be a two-week voyage to resupply Macquarie Island and transport expeditioners.
In light of the event, Australian Antarctic Division’s General Manager of Operations, Charlton Clark, commented that
The Aurora Australis has been the backbone of the Australian Antarctic Program for more than three decades, so the vessel has a special place in our history … Over its lifetime the icebreaker has carried more than 14,000 expeditioners across the Southern Ocean on over 150 research and resupply voyages.
It is stated that the delayed arrival of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina means the Australian Antarctic Division has had to seek an alternative ship for next summer season.
Yet, the Division entered into negotiations to use another vessel for 90 days minimum, until the RSV Nuyina begins operations. Australia’s new icebreaker is due to arrive in Hobart in November, with the first trip south scheduled for January 2021.
We’re really looking forward to the arrival of the Nuyina, it has unprecedented cargo carrying capacity and will be able to operate as a state-of-the-art science platform
… added Charlton Clark.
