RSV Nuyina
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | Nuyina |
| Namesake | Palawa kani for southern lights |
| Owner | Government of Australia |
| Operator | Serco Defence |
| Port of registry | Hobart, Australia |
| Ordered | 2015 |
| Builder | Damen Galați shipyard, Galați, Romania |
| Yard number | 417[1] |
| Laid down | 8 September 2017[4] |
| Launched | 24 September 2018[3] |
| Completed | 2020 (planned)[2] |
| Identification | IMO number: 9797060[1] |
| Status | Under construction |
| General characteristics [5][6] | |
| Type | Icebreaker, Research vessel |
| Displacement | 25,500 tonnes |
| Length | 160.3 m (526 ft) |
| Beam | 25.6 m (84 ft) |
| Draught | 9.3 m (31 ft) |
| Ice class | Polar Class 3 |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 16,000 nautical miles (30,000 km; 18,000 mi) |
| Endurance | 90 days |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 32 |
| Aircraft carried | Up to four helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar and helideck |
Nuyina is Australia's upcoming Antarctic icebreaking research and supply vessel (RSV), intended to support Australian bases on that continent. The vessel can deploy a wide range of vehicles, including helicopters, landing barges and amphibious trucks to support the resupply operation. The new ship provides a modern platform for marine science research in both sea ice and open water with a large moon pool for launching and retrieving sampling equipment and remotely operated vehicles.
Design and construction
The original concept was developed by the Danish engineering company Knud E Hansen, and the design and construction is being managed by the Dutch Damen Group, which built the vessel in its Romania yard.[7]
Following contractual agreement on 28 April 2016[8] with DMS Maritime Pty Ltd (trading as Serco Defence) for delivery, operation and maintenance, the ship’s design and construction was contracted to Damen Group. Design[9] was contracted to naval architects Knud E. Hansen of Denmark. The keel laying was in August 2017[9] at Damen’s Galați shipyard in Romania. Coins from Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, and Australia, were welded to the keel as part of the keel laying.[7] As of March 2018[update], about 7,000 tons out of 10,000 had been cut and the base of the hull had been completed.[2] In September 2018 the hull was successfully floated in the building dock and taken to the outfitting quay.[10]
Naming
On 29 September 2017, the name Nuyina (pronounced "noy-yee-nah") was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Josh Frydenberg. The name is the word in the palawa kani language of the Tasmanian Aborigines for the southern lights.[7] The name was suggested by school students in a competition, and is jointly attributed to students from St Virgil's College in Hobart and Secret Harbour Primary School near Perth, Western Australia.
The name Nuyina evokes the names of previous ships involved in Australian Antarctic research and investigation:[7]
- Aurora Australis (1989–2020), Australia's current icebreaking research and resupply vessel
- SY Aurora (1876–1918), used by Sir Douglas Mawson for exploring the continent (1910–14) and Sir Ernest Shackleton
Service
Nuyina is expected to arrive in its home port, Hobart, in 2020, and make its first voyage to Antarctica for the 2020-21 summer season. It will be operated by Serco Defence under the direction of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) for the Australian Government.
References
- ^ a b "DAMEN SCHELDE 417 (9797060)". Sea-web. S&P Global. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ a b Australia's Icebreaker Taking Shape. Maritime Executive, 17 March 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ "Damen performs float-out of Australian icebreaker". Damen. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Icebreaker Keel Laying – Australian Antarctic Division". Knud E. Hansen. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ NUYINA. Knud E. Hansen. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
- ^ Icebreaker specifications. Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
- ^ a b c d Boaty McBoatface: Australia sees the light on naming new icebreaker after southern aurora , ABC News Online, 2017-09-29
- ^ Australian Icebreaker Operated by DMS Maritime to be Constructed by Damen, Damen Group media release, 2016-05-06
- ^ a b Keel-Laying of Australia's new icebreaker laid, Knud E. Hansen media release, 2017-08-25
- ^ "Damen performs float-out of Australian icebreaker". Damen Shipyards Group. Retrieved 26 September 2018.