An era frozen in time

THE icebreaker that marks Hobart’s waterfront each winter will today embark on the first voyage of what is likely its last season.

For 30 years the Aurora Australis has been chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division to conduct research voyages in Antarctic waters and supply Australian bases on the great white continent.

And it’s been a “pretty cool office”, said veteran voyage leader Leanne Millhouse.

Ms Millhouse stood with the master of the ship Gerry O’Doherty and first-time station leader David Knoff as the day to embark approached and a crane was loaded onto the ship.

The three — two old hands and one first-timer — spoke of the nostalgic feeling surrounding the occasion.

“There’s a little bit of nostalgia from our side, certainly, since there’s some uncertainty about the future of the ship,” said Mr O’Doherty, who has been a part of the vessel’s history for 20 years.

In its wake will sail the RSV Nuyina, a 160m, 24,000 tonne icebreaker that is under construction in Romania.

Meaning “southern lights” in Tasmanian Aboriginal language, the new icebreaker will dwarf the beloved Aurora, which is 94m and a third of the tonnage.

But her years on the water have endured great fates, surviving fires, storms and a blizzard-induced grounding that saw expeditioners rescued by a Japanese icebreaker.

And the vessel known fondly as Orange Roughy has acted as a home for many over its years, and has provided a space for bonds and friendships to form in a memorable way.

“We get what’s called a lot of repeat offenders and they’re like extended family to us,” Mr O’Doherty said.

“People have known each other for a long time and we’re spending sometimes months confined in the same environment. You can have long conversations uninterrupted by telephone calls or TV ads or anything else.

“It’s quite a unique environment socially.”

It will be a new experience for Mr Knoff.

“For the first-timers it’s a great piece of history to be a part of, in potentially its final season,” he said.

Purpose built in Newcastle, the Aurora Australis is famous locally, nationally and internationally and is the only Australian-designed, built, owned and operated Antarctic icebreaker. It has survived storm, fire and accident and has transported thousands of expeditioners and millions of tonnes of stores. It has rescued other ships trapped in the ice and supported medical emergencies.

The Aurora Australis will leave for Davis Station today with 24 crew and about 90 expeditioners on-board.

Beyond its last season, the ship’s fate is yet known and lies in the hands of owner P&O Maritime Services.

Replacing it will be a vessel that will perhaps come to bear the same sentiment and value as the Aurora has. About 13 weeks behind schedule, the Nuyina is planned to arrive in October next year.

The icebreaker will have a much larger fuel and cargo capacity than the Aurora, be fitted with scientific equipment reflective of current technology and have a greater icebreaking capability.