Australia’s Antarctic scientists ‘pretty excited’ as $2b icebreaker Nuyina nears completion

The Australian Antarctic Division’s new icebreaker Nuyina is undergoing its final fit out before delivery. Take a look inside.

SEA trials of Australia’s new $2 billion icebreaker RSV Nuyina are still three months away but progress on the internal fit-out of the vessel is adding to excitement within the Antarctic community.

The Australian Antarctic Division has released images of the Nuyina fit-out at Damen shipyards in Romania, with the mess and galley (dining/kitchen), cabins, gym, conference room and movie theatre, lounge, library and laundries almost complete.

The icebreaker Nuyina at Damen shipyards in Romania. Picture: Damen/Australian Antarctic Division

AAD modernisation general manager Rob Bryson said the ship’s science facilities, including a science office, adjoining meeting rooms and a science operations room, were also nearing completion.

The gym has six exercise bikes, two rowing machines, two treadmills, two cross-trainers, one weight frame, two bench presses and non-rolling weights, and floorspace with mats for pilates or yoga. Picture: Damen/Australian Antarctic Division

Mr Bryson said facilities on the new icebreaker would be superior to the Aurora Australis, which will be replaced in mid-2020 when the Nuyina arrives in Hobart. The project is about 13 weeks behind schedule.

“People are getting pretty excited about this ship and what it can do, and the opportunities it will provide expeditioners. In a research sense, it will give us 10 times the scientific capability of the Aurora,” he said.

The Nuyina’s sheer size – 160m long compared with the Aurora at 94.5m – enables extra resources to be housed and the comfort levels of scientists, expeditioners and crew will be much improved.

The conference room and theatre, with seating for up to 80 people, will be used for briefings and training and will also host movie nights on the ship. Picture: Damen/Australian Antarctic Division

Mr Bryson said the health and wellbeing of people on board was key in the design process. The Nuyina has a gym three times the size of the Aurora’s, plus there is a sauna, library, lounges, theatre and more open spaces.

When complete, the Nuyina will be able to carry 32 crew and 117 expeditioners on board for trips lasting up to three months.

The galley is a full-scale commercial kitchen with ovens, cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, stainless steel sinks and a bread maker. Picture: Damen/Australian Antarctic Division

Mr Bryson said the Nuyina was undergoing a series of harbour acceptance trials which involves about 190 procedures to test propulsion, bilge, ballast and other auxiliary systems.

Next phase for the Nuyina will be sea acceptance trials, which will include deep water testing for scientific research deployments, measurement of acoustic noise and its suitability for operating in the ice and extreme low temperatures of the Antarctic.