The recently decommissioned AURORA AUSTRALIS seen in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. 5/12/2020

AURORA AUSTRALIS was Australia’s Antarctic flagship for 30 years. She has been temporarily replaced by the chartered MPV EVEREST (IMO: 9769130) until the new state of the art icebreaker NUYINA (IMO: 9797060) has been completed sometime this year.

7 days after this photo was taken, AURORA AUSTRALIS had left Australia for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for refurbishment and then possible sale or charter. There was an unsuccessful attempt by a group of Antarctic enthusiasts at securing the AURORA AUSTRALIS for use as a floating Antarctic museum based in Hobart.

AURORA AUSTRALIS

Type: Research/Survey Vessel | Ice Class: LR 1A Super Icebreaker
Flag: Marshall Islands | Port of Registry: Majuro | Call Sign: V7A4209
IMO: 8717283 | MMSI: 538009024
Owner: P&O Maritime Logistics - Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Operator: P&O Polar - Hobart, Australia
Designer: Wärtsilä Marine Industries - Finland
Year Built: 1990 | Country of Build: Australia | Builder: Carrington Slipways Pty. Ltd. | Location of Yard: Tomago
Keel Laid: 28.10.1988 | Launch Date: 10.09.1989 | Date of Completion: 29.03.1990
LOA: 94.91 m | LPP: 88.4 m | Beam: 20.3 m | Depth: 10.43 m | Draught: 7.862 m
GT: 6,574 | DWT: 3,893 | Displacement: 8,158 tons
Capacity: Break Bulk Cargo: 1,790 m3 | Supply Fuel in Tanks: 1,000 m3 | TEU: 29
Aircraft Carried: 4 helicopters | Aviation Facilities: Hangar and helideck
Deck Space: Trawl Deck: 100 m2 | Helideck: 400 m2 | Main Hatch: 210 m2
Deck Cranes: Three cranes of 25/31 (fitted with a 5 tonne hook for efficient cargo operations in open seas)
7/13 and 2 tonne SWL for cargo handling | Gantry Crane Stern: 4 tonne SWL Gantry
Number of Laboratories. 8
Ancillary Craft: 1 x 10 m steel twin screw tender craft fitted with 2 x 125 HP diesel. Speed 10 knots
Passengers: 116 | Crew: 24
Main Engines: 1 x Wärtsilä 12V32D 4500 kW / 6000 HP, 1 x Wärtsilä 16V32D 5500 kW / 7400 HP
Auxiliaries: 2 x Wärtsilä 6R22 900 kW, 1 x Wärtsilä 4R22 600 kW
Propellers: 1 x controllable-pitch propeller with nozzle
Thrusters: 1 x transverse bow thruster, 2 x retractable azimuth stern thrusters
Speed: Max: 16.8 knots, Cruising: 13 knots, Ice (1.23 metres thick): 2.5 knots