Hobart to Welcome RSV Nuyina

Media release – City of Hobart, 15 October 2021

City welcomes RSV Nuyina home to Hobart

City of Hobart is preparing to welcome the city’s newest resident, as the Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina nears its new home port.

The new icebreaker is expected to arrive at Hobart’s waterfront at around 10am tomorrow (Saturday), completing a 24,000km journey from The Netherlands that started six weeks ago.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the arrival of the 160m-long purpose-built icebreaker would be an exciting milestone for the city.

“Hobart is the proudest city in Australia right now because we’re home to the best Antarctic ship in the world,” Cr Reynolds said.

“Hobart’s status as an Antarctic Gateway City goes beyond just the geographical proximity to Antarctica – our city and our state has a special connection with the icy continent.

“About 950 Tasmanians are employed in roles connected to Antarctica and we expect that to grow in the years to come, creating new opportunities for our scientific and research sectors, among others.”

The Antarctic sector is estimated to be worth around $160 million a year to the Tasmanian economy.

RSV Nuyina will travel up the River Derwent toward the waterfront tomorrow morning, accompanied by a flotilla of local boats and yachts.

Cr Reynolds said she expected to see residents form a strong land-based welcome party for the vessel as it arrives on Saturday morning.

“There’s a number of vantage points across Hobart and the eastern shore where people can get a good view, and we expect these will be well used,” she said.

“While we encourage residents to be a part of this historic moment for our city, we do ask that they do so in a COVID-safe manner. That includes maintaining space between groups of people and keeping up good hygiene practices.”

The Lord Mayor will present a plaque to the captain of RSV Nuyina at a special welcome reception on Monday afternoon.

“This plaque will be presented on behalf of the Hobart community, to formally welcome Nuyina to her home port,” Cr Reynolds said. “The plaque will be affixed to the ship to make sure a piece of Hobart is forever part of her future journeys to Antarctica.”

Find out more about the arrival at the Australian Antarctic Program Nuyina arrival page.

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 15 October 2021

Welcome icebreaker… dump the airport

On Saturday, 16th October, the Australian Antarctic Division’s new icebreaker, the RSV NUYINA, is going to arrive in Hobart. The icebreaker is a great asset to Australia’s Antarctic science community, unlike the disastrous proposed concrete airport in Antarctica.

We will welcome the ship but also let the Australian Antarctic Division know that now we have this great icebreaker, that’s ALL we need! We don’t need to lay 115,000 tonnes of concrete airport on top of the homes of seals and penguins.

Where: AJ White Park, Hobart.

What:  Paddle out/flotilla (weather permitting) if not, welcome shore party with banners and speeches.

When: 9am. Saturday 16th October.