(Ice) ship comes in for producers, provedores

As Australia’s new icebreaker readies its delivery voyage, deals are being struck to supply it with everything from maintenance to ice cream.

RSV Nuyina, Australia's new icebreaker, undergoing trials in Norway. Source: AAD

As Australia’s new icebreaker undertakes its “delivery voyage”, big deals are being struck to supply the vessel with everything from maintenance to ice cream, so far pumping $300m into the economy.

The $530m state-of-the-art RSV Nuyina, built in Romania, is making its way to its intended base of Hobart for trials ahead of beginning service in Australia’s Antarctic Program.

Nuyina replaces the 30-year-old Aurora Australis and promises to significantly boost to Australia’s activities on and around the frozen continent, over which it has a latent claim to 42 per cent.

The state-of-the-art vessel’s extra size, icebreaking capacity, science facilities and staying power will allow longer, smarter and bigger operations in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

However, the ship, which takes its name from a Tasmanian Indigenous word for the southern lights, is also proving a bonanza for local suppliers.

About $300m in deals have been struck for equipment and food supplies for the vessel, which conducts science and resupplies Australia’s Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations.

Nuyina’s operators, Serco Australia, said deals to supply the ship would create hundreds of jobs through provision of crewing and support services, ranging from security and cleaning to provedoring and stevedoring.

A new service and supply deal with local ship chandlers and provedores Tasmanian Shipping Supplies alone had locked-in $300m in trade over the next 10 years.

“This is a milestone for the new icebreaker’s Tasmanian supply chain which incorporates everything from local fresh food suppliers to manufacturing and maintenance,” said Serco chief executive Peter Welling.

“Serco is continuing to establish agreements with local industry for the operational and maintenance support services in advance of the vessel’s arrival next month.”

The 160.3 metre long Nuyina will accommodate more than 30 crew and up to 116 scientists and other personnel for expeditions as long as 90 days.

That means a significant demand for a range of products during each summer Antarctic season, including 12,000 eggs, 2,400 litres of milk and more than 1.5 tonnes of chicken.

Nuyina is due in Hobart by late October, the AAD using the delivery voyage to test its capabilities and sail as far as 60 degrees south, to the edge of the sea ice surrounding Antarctica.

“It extends our operating range, it gives us additional days of scientific activity in the Southern Ocean … and it allows us to work in collaboration with Australian and international science organisations to deliver answers to some the really big questions about climate, biology and other ocean issues,” said AAD director Kim Ellis.