The Australian Antarctic Division has farewelled its longest-serving icebreaker, with the RSV Aurora Australis making its final journey after 31 years of service.
The ship’s last trip south at the service of the Australian Antarctic Program is a two-week voyage to resupply Macquarie Island, and transport expeditioners.
General Manager of Operations at the Australian Antarctic Division, Charlton Clark said the voyage marked the end of an era.
“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,” Mr Clark said.
“Over its lifetime the icebreaker has carried more than 14,000 expeditioners across the Southern Ocean on over 150 research and resupply voyages.”
He said many who had sailed on the ship had a deep connection with the vessel nicknamed the “Orange Roughy” and had fond memories of their Antarctic adventures.
Australia’s new icebreaker, RSV Nuyina 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,” Mr Clark said.
