The Hon. Greg Hunt MP
Minister for the Environment

The Australian Government has taken a significant step towards procuring a next-generation icebreaker to replace the ageing Aurora Australis, through the release of a detailed Request for Tender (RFT) to two prequalified companies.

Australia’s new icebreaker will be able to withstand some of the harshest conditions on earth to resupply our Antarctic and subantarctic research stations, including waves of more than 14 metres, hurricane force winds and it will have the ability to break through thick ice.

The ship will also have the capacity to support multi-disciplinary science ranging from the Antarctic atmosphere, through the sea ice zone, to deep in the Southern Ocean.