Final voyage for Antarctic icebreaker Aurora Australis as ship departs Hobart

Tuesday marked the end of an era for an iconic part of Hobart’s modern history, with the Aurora Australis departing on its final voyage.

It was a bittersweet day for the Australian Antarctic Division as the backbone of its operations departed on its final voyage.

The Aurora Australis will undertake a resupply run to Macquarie Island, about 1500km south-east of Tasmania, before retiring in two weeks.

General manager of operations and safety Charlton Clark said the trip would mark the end of 31 years of operations.

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

“The Aurora Australis has had an amazing history and it's done some incredible work in support of our activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean,” he said.

He said the ship had undertaken some “amazing science” in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic’s Australian bases.

“It’s helped our scientists uncover amazing new information about the role of the Southern Ocean, it’s food web, and also the science that underpins our efforts in understanding a changing climate,” he said.

“It’s underpinned a lot of our research efforts.”

“We’ve got a range of expeditioners who are very excited to see and get on board the ship, and they’re looking forward to hopefully some calm weather on the way down to the island.”

Aurora Australis ahead of its final voyage to Antarctica. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Operations manager Robb Clifton said over the ship’s decades of service it had carried about 14,000 people to and from Antarctica, with 58 heading on its final trip south.

“It’s amazing when you travel through the Southern Ocean and perhaps many will see their first iceberg through the bridge, see the wildlife, and then see the sea ice of the Antarctic continent as they travel south,” he said.

“It has a really special place in the hearts of expeditioners.”

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Mr Clark said a new vessel to replace the Aurora Australis was under construction and was due to come into service next year.

“It will become the cornerstone of Australia’s Antarctic program for decades to come,” he said.

“The Australian Antarctic Division has gone out to market to find an interim vessel with the delays of the Nuyina to make sure we have an interim capacity to keep our stations resupplied over the coming summer.

“We’ve been through a tender process and hope to be able to make an announcement in coming weeks.”

P&O will decide what the future will hold for the ship, with calls for it to be used as an emergency response vehicle.

Aurora Australis ahead of its final voyage to Antarctica. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“When the Aurora Australis returns at the end of this voyage we hope to be able to be in a position to celebrate its arrival back to Hobart,” Mr Clark said.

“Hobartians, and Tasmanians in general, have a great connection to the Aurora Australis. It’s an iconic part of the fabric of the Hobart landscape. I hope that Tasmanians maintain that connection over a long period of time.”