Aurora Australis granted permit to leave Australia, dooming campaign to have her stay

The fight to keep the Aurora Australis in Hobart in its retirement looks lost with a permit being signed in Canberra to allow the icebreaker to leave for international waters. LATEST >>

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The fight to keep the Aurora Australis in Hobart in its retirement looks lost with a permit being signed in Canberra to allow the icebreaker to leave for overseas.

Clark MP Andrew Wilkie and the Aurora Australis Foundation had been fighting to stop the distinctive orange vessel being sold and instead stay in its Tasmanian home port to serve as a floating museum.

Michael Stoddart, former Chief Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division with the Aurora Australis an icebreaker and research vessel in the back ground.

That campaign took on some urgency in June when it was reported the Argentine Government had bought the Aurora Australis for $US2 million to use as its Antarctic vessel.

Neither Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher nor the vessel’s owner P & O Maritime have confirmed where the icebreaker is destined for or when it might leave Hobart.

Mr Fletcher said he had granted a permit under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Act) to allow the export of the icebreaker RSV Aurora Australis, following an application by P & O Maritime Services.

“For around 30 years the RSV Aurora Australis was based in Hobart and operated by P & O on behalf of the Australian Government to support our Antarctic program,” he said.

“That long term charter ended in March and P & O has been seeking offers for the continued operation of the vessel.

Aurora Australis ahead of its final voyage to Antarctica. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“I needed to decide if the export permit should be refused on the grounds that losing the Aurora Australis would significantly diminish the cultural heritage of Australia.

“While it is a significant vessel, that is a high bar to meet. The ship is an important part of local history but it does not pass the test.”

The permit P & O applied for did not say where the icebreaker would be going but the company has made no secret of wanting to sell the vessel - and most likely to an overseas buyer.

The Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act sets out a process the Minister must follow before deciding whether to grant or refuse a permit for a Class B Australian Protected Object (which can include certain objects of water transport such as power driven vessels).

Mr Fletcher said he had carefully followed that process before arriving at his decision to grant the export permit – including considering reports from expert examiners registered under the Act and recommendations from the National Cultural Heritage Committee.

Australian Antarctic Division General Manager of Operations Charlton Clark in front of the Aurora Australis ahead of its final voyage to Antarctica. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, will come into service shortly once its final harbour testing, and sea and ice trials, are completed

Due to COVID-19 delays, the Nuyina will not arrive in Hobart till the middle of next year. In March the Australian Antarctic Division reached a deal with Dutch company Maritime Construction Services to use the vessel Everest from December until March next year.

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