The Australian Government has offered particulars of Australia’s new state-of-the-art icebreaker set to interchange the Aurora Australis because the flagship of Australia’s Antarctic Division in 2019.

The new icebreaker is designed by Danish naval architects, Knud E. Hansen, and will probably be constructed by Damen Shipyards of the Netherlands. DMS Maritime, owned by British-based Serco, has been chosen as the popular tenderer within the venture.

Plans name for the ship to measure 156 meters in size and displace 23,400 tonnes, with lodging for 34 crew and as much as 116 personnel. The ship will primarily be used to provide Australia’s three everlasting Antarctic analysis stations with cargo, gear and personnel, however it’ll additionally as a analysis ship itself with intensive lab services. Among these options, the ship will embody a moon pool, two helipads,  a multi-beam bathymetric echo sounder for seafloor mapping, and versatile science laboratories.

The icebreaker will probably be quicker, bigger, stronger and provide elevated endurance in contrast with the getting old Aurora Australis, which has been working within the Southern Ocean since 1989.

Under the anticipated contract, the icebreaker will probably be designed and constructed by DMS Maritime’s subcontractor Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Romania. DMS Maritime would then function and preserve the vessel in assist of the Australian Antarctic programme on a long-term foundation.

Commissioning is anticipated for 2019.

More photos of the icebreaker:

Images: Australian Government

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