AAD icebreaker RSV Nuyina too big for Tasman Bridge, forced North to refuel this season
The Australian Antarctic Division’s icebreaker has been refused access to refuel in Hobart because the research vessel is “too big” for the Tasman Bridge. What they plan to do.
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Australian Antarctic Division’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina will have to travel hundreds of kilometres North to refuel because the vessel is too big to fit under the Tasman Bridge.
The 160m-long research vessel has been refused permission by TasPorts to refuel at Selfs Point because it cannot sail under the Tasman Bridge despite Hobart being the main gateway to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
“The Australian Antarctic Division has received advice from TasPorts that RSV Nuyina is not permitted under the Tasman Bridge to refuel at Selfs Point,’ an AAD spokesperson said.
“RSV Nuyina will refuel in Burnie for the upcoming summer season.
“The Australian Antarctic Division is working with the Tasmanian Government on long-term Hobart-based refuelling options.”
RSV Nuyina, which cost $529m, is scheduled to refuel in Burnie in October and November for the upcoming summer season. The return trip to Burnie port to refuel is about 1200km.
TasPort’s Tasmanian Harbour Master Mick Wall said Nuyina did not meet the minimum safety criteria to sail under the Tasman Bridge after a Non-Standard Vessel Assessment (NSVA) was conducted.
The review was done by the Office of the Harbour Master and ADD.
“The NSVA now complete has found that it does not meet the minimum safe criteria to transit the bridge,” he said.
“The RSV Nuyina’s non-linear and rounded hull, designed for ice operations, does not have a standard parallel bodied under water area and, as observed on a number of occasions during on-water trials, does not possess the same level of directional stability found in other standard hull form designs when undertaking dynamic turns in windy conditions in confined waters.
“This means that the vessel would exceed the safe minimum clearing distances from the bridge pylons if the RSV Nuyina attempted to transit the Bridge.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government has commissioned a independent report to explore refuelling options for Hobart.
“The Tasmanian Government wants to support the Australian Antarctic Division to operate safely and efficiently, which is why we have commissioned an independent business case to explore refuelling options for the Port of Hobart,” he said.
“This report is expected in the next few weeks.”
It comes as Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the news will risk undermining the Antarctic division’s reputation as RSV Nuyina will have to travel hundreds of kilometres north.
“Assurances from the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) senior management that the RSV Nuyina could be safely refuelled in Hobart now look farcical, and risk undermining our Antarctic division’s reputation,” he said.
“If the AAD cannot manage something as simple as this, what does it say about our competence in meeting Australia’s critical o`bligations under the Antarctic Treaty?
“Re-fuelling the RSV Nuyina hundreds of kilometres away from the port originally earmarked to service the vessel will not only have environmental repercussions but presumably will also mean finan`cial cost-savings will have to be found elsewhere in the AAD’s operating budget.
“It’s incredibly frustrating that this comes at a time when important science research programs are already facing significant budget pressures.”
In 2021, The Mercury reported concerns over the vessels plans to transit under the Tasman Bridge to the fuel terminal located between Cornelian and New Town Bays.
At the time, an AAD spokeswoman said the length, draught and moulded beam of the Nuyina would pose no issues.
Originally published as AAD icebreaker RSV Nuyina too big for Tasman Bridge, forced North to refuel this season
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