Plans to save Aurora Australis from the scrapyard and turn it into a floating Antarctic museum

UPDATED: Aurora Australis owners will not say if a date has been set to send the ship to the scrapyard, but a solution needs to be found within “a very short time frame”. Find out what a newly-formed foundation has planned >>

THE clock is ticking for a newly-formed foundation to raise millions of dollars to spare the Aurora Australis from the scrap heap and turn it into a floating Antarctic museum.

The iconic Antarctic icebreaker, which was first launched in 1989, embarked on its final voyage earlier this year and now its owner is trying to offload it.

P & O Maritime would not say if a deadline had been set to find a new owner, but said a solution had to be found within “a very short time frame”.

A spokeswoman for the company said it was “open to considering any reasonable offers”.

It comes as the recently-formed Aurora Australis Foundation launched a proposal they will submit to the owners.

The 95-metre Class 1A icebreaker has had an illustrious career carrying thousands of scientists and expeditioners south and resupplying Antarctic stations.

Director of the Antarctic Festival, Paul Cullen and chairman of the Aurora Australis foundation, Michael Stoddart as they want the ship to be saved from the scrap yard. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The foundation said the quote to buy the ship from P&O was US$1 million, equating to $1.43 million Australian dollars, the vessel’s scrap metal value.

About $3 million must be raised from public and private sources, not only to purchase the ship but pay for its upkeep in the short to medium term.

The Aurora Australis Museum would be dedicated to Australian Antarctic history and the ship could also be used as a maritime training facility, function centre, accommodation or conference venue.

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Foundation chair Michael Stoddart said Hobartians felt a sense of ownership of the iconic ship.

“The ship is pretty much owned by Hobart and Hobart people see it as their ship. It’s certainly won a place in the hearts of most people and this is where it belongs,’’ he said.

Mr Stoddart said the foundation faced a huge challenge to save the vessel from the scrapyard before the end of June, but they were giving it their “best bet”.

Australian Antarctic Festival director Paul Cullen said tens of thousands of people toured the ship during the 2018 event.

“There couldn’t be anything more iconic,’’ he said. “A giant orange ship parked at PW1, and the idea we could just drag it away to the breaker’s yard is just nuts … it would be giving away a piece of Antarctic heritage.

Mr Cullen said the proposal for an on-board Antarctic museum would be a major drawcard, and had the potential to be “as big as Mona”.

MP Andrew Wilkie has called on the ship’s owners to delay making any immediate decisions on her future. Photo: Sam Mooy

Federal Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, called on P&O to delay making a decision on the future of the ship.

“The Aurora Australis Foundation’s proposal to turn the vessel into a floating Antarctic museum reflects the considerable community interest in keeping the ship in Hobart,’’ he said.

“The Federal and State Governments really must work with P&O on a stay of execution so all proposals can be properly explored and proponents have a reasonable amount of time to arrange their funding.

“This is now a test of P&O as a corporate citizen and a test for the Federal and State Government’s interest in heritage and the public interest.”

P&O said it had been speaking with prospective new owners over the past year and thought a new home had been found a matter of weeks ago.

“While we are continuing with our inquiries to find a new owner that wishes to operate the vessel, P & O Maritime now faces a very difficult decision,’’ the spokeswoman said.

“Keeping her berthed at the Port of Hobart in her current state is unsustainable as it is costing many thousands of dollars per day. We need to find a solution in a very short time frame.

“We would welcome any interested party to come forward with a realistic proposal in a timely manner as a decision about the future of the Aurora Australis must be made imminently.”

P&O said dismantling and recycling the ship was a “last resort” that would be carried out “with a heavy heart”.