RSV Nuyina is an icebreaking research and supply vessel that supports Australian scientific activities and research bases in Antarctica. Capable of deploying a wide range of vehicles, including helicopters, landing barges and amphibious trucks, the ship provides a platform for marine science in 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. Design and construction of the vessel was managed by the Dutch Damen Group at their shipyard in Romania. Following a contractual agreement on 28 April 2016 with DMS Maritime, a subsidiary of Serco, for delivery, operation and maintenance, the ship's design and construction was contracted to Damen Group. The design was contracted to naval architects Knud E Hansen of Denmark. In August 2017, keel laying took place 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. By March 2018, about 7,000 tons out of 10,000 had been cut, and the base of the hull had been completed. In September 2018, the hull was successfully floated in the building dock and taken to the outfitting quay. It was then towed to Vlissingen in the Netherlands for fitting out. The vessel was handed over on 19 August 2021. In September it travelled from the Netherlands to Australia.
RSV Nuyina's Ship's Bell The bell for the Bridge of RSV Nuyina was presented by the President of the ANARE Club at the ship’s official launch on 18 December 2021. It was manufactured in Maryborough, Queensland, by Olds Engineering, from AS1567 - C92610 commonly referred to as G1 or ‘Admiralty gunmetal’, 88% copper, 10% tin, 2% zinc, supplied by Hayes Metals of New Zealand & Australia. The bell was engraved in Bendigo, Victoria, by National Engraving. The bell’s lanyard was made by Dr Barbara Frankel from Tasmania. The whole project, from metal, manufacture, engraving and knotting, was donated by those involved, as a gift to the Australian Antarctic Division for RSV Nuyina.
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 Aboriginal Tasmanians for the southern lights. The name was suggested by school students in the 'Name our Icebreaker' competition, and is jointly attributed to students from St Virgil's College, Hobart and Secret Harbour Primary School, Perth. On 22 November 2017, 6 students from each school flew to Wilkins Aerodrome in Antarctica and spent three hours on the ice meeting scientists and expeditioners. The name Nuyina evokes the names of previous ships involved in Australian Antarctic research and investigation:
Aurora Australis (1989–2020), Australia's previous icebreaking research and resupply vessel SY Aurora (1876–1918), used by Douglas Mawson for exploring the continent (1910–14) and Ernest Shackleton
Service Nuyina began sea trials in the North Sea on 23 November 2020. Nuyina entered Damen Schiedam dry-dock in February 2021 for an unspecified reason. It will be operated by Serco under the direction of the Australian Antarctic Division for the Australian Government. It will support science operations in the Antarctic, as well as resupplying the Australian Antarctic Division stations: Casey, Davis, Mawson and Macquarie Island. Due to mechanical problems in the propulsion line, Nuyina was repaired in Singapore under warranty, unable to be used during the 2022-23 Antarctic season. It resumed service in May 2023. In 2023, it was reported that Nuyina would have to sail to Burnie on the other side of Tasmania, some 360 nautical miles (670 km) away by sea, for refuelling before heading out to Antarctica. The ship's permission to pass under the Tasman Bridge to reach the refuelling station at Selfs Point, about 2.2 nautical miles (4 km) from its home berth in Hobart, was revoked due to safety concerns: due to its icebreaking hull form demonstrating excessive side slip during simulations and sea trials, Nuyina was found to have insufficient directional stability to safely complete the turn required before passing between the bridge pylons when sailing out. While the ship's protruding bridge wings were extended by 3.6 metres (12 ft) during construction to improve visibility near the ship's sides, this did not have an impact on the decision on the ruling. In late August 2023, the Nuyina sailed from Tasmania towards Australia's Casey Station research base on the Bailey Peninsula in Antarctica. Two helicopters from the Nuyina rescued a member of the team at the base who was suffering a medical emergency that required evacuation.
Science capabilities
Scientific Data from RSV Nuyina Data from Nuyina can be accessed through https://data.aad.gov.au/.
Fixed laboratories Air chemistry space Dry labs x 2 Meteorological lab Wet labs x 2 Wet well
Containerised laboratories 15 serviced lab module slots (services equiv to fixed wet labs) 9 serviced support module slots
Science spaces Aft control room Aft Deck ~ 500m2 Battery charging rooms x 2 Crows nest CTD hangar Electronics laboratory Foremast Gas bottles storage lockers x 4 Hazardous material store Laboratory store Observation huts Sea ice refueling area Sea ice staging area Sea ice staging drying room Science cool and cold stores Science frozen store lobby Science meeting room Science Offices Science Operations Room Science winch room
Scientific Deployment Systems A frame 30t static with 10t and 5t winches Air sampling pipes in foremast x 2 CTD hangar overhead crane CTD winches fibre optic x 2 (EOM) Deep core handling system Deep sea coring winch Deep sea towing winch fibre optic (EOM) Drop keels x 2 Forward outboard deployment system General purpose CTD hangar winch General purpose winch Moonpool and cursor frame Multi-purpose overhead crane 10t Sea ice ramp Side outboard deployment system (SODS) Towed body winch fibre optic (EOM) Trawl winches x 2 Tugger winches x 2 Twin net drum
Scientific data collection systems
Scientific Data Management System (SDMS) KVM matrix switching Scientific racks
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