Two new landing barges are launching in order to assist the work of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina. The barges will be based onbroad the RSV Nuyina, along with three tenders to transfer the personnel and a scientific research tender.
Those two aluminum barges will lift up to 45 tonnes of cargo from ship to shore located at Australia’s Antarctic and sub Antarctic stations.
The design and construction of the barges was achieved by the collaboration of Taylor Bros, shipbuilder Phil Taylor along with Australian Antarctic Division and Serco Australia and Damen team. A team consisting of 12 people worked for 18 months on the construction of the two barges.
It’s been a real challenge to balance all the requirements, including operating temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of up to 50 knots. We also had to consider stability with heavy loads on board, fuel carrying capacity and structural strength
…as Phil Taylor stated.
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The currently operating Aurora Australis is going to be replaced by the RSV Nuyina, which offers increased endurance, as a result of faster, larger and stronger characteristics. The vessel will provide Antarctic research stations with cargo , equipment and personnel while also it will be equipped with laboratory facilities on board.
The 160-meter long, 24,000-ton vessel that will host 34 crew and up to 116 scientific personnel and according to plans it will be commissioned during the 2020.
To conclude, Serco Australia is monitoring the ship design and build process, and afterwards will be responsible of the operation and maintenance of the icebreaker from its home port of Hobart, Tasmania.
See also: Handbook for mariners operating in Australian waters.
