In support of the Nuyina - breaking ice

The Nuyina is Australia’s game-changing new icebreaking research and supply vessel (RSV), intended to support Australian bases on Antarctica. Capable of deploying helicopters, landing barges and amphibious trucks to support resupply operations, and with a large moon pool for launching and retrieving sampling equipment and remotely operated vehicles, it’s the world leader for its class. It provides a cutting-edge platform for marine science research in both sea ice and open water.

Named after the southern lights in the palawa kani language of the Tasmanian Aborigines, it will make its first voyage to Antarctica for the 2020-21 summer season.  It will act as the main lifeline for Australia’s Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations and the central platform of Australia’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific research.

RSV Nuyina represents an essential and significant expansion of Australia’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean capabilities. So important that the Australian government invested nearly $2 billion to cover the design, build and 30-year operational and maintenance lifespan of the vessel - the single most significant investment in the history of Australia’s Antarctic Program.

As the Prime Contractors for this prestigious project, Serco turned to us for our decades of engineering expertise. Thanks to our support through design, build, and transition into service, we’ve been instrumental in ensuring milestone achievements and capability delivery to date.

We help overcome the build and transition into service of this large and complex sea platform that presented numerous unique and bespoke requirements, from critical maintenance engineering advice to programmatic and systems engineering.

We’re proud that our support of the RSV Nuyina has helped to provide Australia with a critical enabler and new, game-changing capability for the future of its Antarctic program for decades to come.