Could Hobart’s beloved icebreaker Aurora Australis be headed to South America?

Reports Tasmania’s favourite icebreaker could be leaving Hobart have devastated local campaigners trying to save the vessel from becoming scrap and prompted a Tasmanian MP to ask Canberra to intervene.

TASMANIA’S favourite icebreaker the Aurora Australis could be leaving Hobart headed for South America.

Reports that the ship had been sold to Argentinian interests have devastated local campaigners trying to save the vessel from becoming scrap and prompted a Tasmanian MP to ask Canberra to intervene.

The Aurora Australi.

Clark MP Andrew Wilkie was alerted to the purported sale by the Aurora Australis Foundation which on Friday was sent a link to the Argentinian Defense and Security Magazine’s Facebook page.

“Our country would be finalising the acquisition of the polar ship Aurora Australis form a private company based in Tasmania for $US2 million. The ship is operational and ready to sail,” the post said.

It is understood the ship will be used by the Argentine Government to support its Antarctic program.

Andrew Wilkie. Picture: AAP/MICK TSIKAS

“The heritage values of the Aurora are indisputable with Hobart residents coming to value the Aurora as an intrinsic symbol of a very special relationship,” Mr Wilkie wrote to Paul Fletcher, the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts.

“Indeed our very sense of place in Hobart is in part set by the imposing orange vessel docked next to Salamanca Place for much of the year.

“To have that torn from us after 30 years will be a bitter blow to Tasmanians and a concern to all Australian who value our heritage.”

The icebreaker is being replaced by a new vessel, the Nuyina, which is being built in Romania.

MORE: NEW ANTARCTIC ICEBREAKER HIT BY 19-WEEK DELAY

The Aurora Australias Foundation, set up to campaign for the ship to become a floating museum, had been in talks through a broker about acquiring the vessel.

Supporters were knocked by reports the loved ship could be leaving the city for good.

“She is Hobart’s ship,” foundation secretary Melanie Van Twest said.

“If she leaves here for Argentina she will never come back. We are not just devastated that our plans have been blown out the water but that we have run out of time to save her.”

Dr Van Twest said a local broker had contacted P and O Maritime Logistics and the company had confirmed it was in talks with an Argentinian interest.

Mr Wilkie has asked Mr Fletcher to exercise the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 to at least allow for a comprehensive heritage assessment to be completed for the vessel.

“Clearly the Aurora must be kept in Australia if the assessment does indeed find the vessel to be of significant heritage value, in which case there are a number of proposals already on the table for other uses,” Mr Wilkie said

“I am confident I speak for a great many Tasmanians when I say please, do not stand by and the let the RSC Aurora Australis slip from its moorings and be lost to us forever.”

A P&O Maritime Logistics spokeswoman said the company “has been approached by a number of interested parties from around the world”.