Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, made contact with the ocean floor near remote Heard Island during a resupply mission, the Australian antarctic Division (AAD) confirmed today, February 29, 2024. The incident occurred while the Nuyina was attempting to establish an underwater communications cable, resulting in damage to the vessel’s sonar dome.No personnel where injured.
The Nuyina, a $528-million icebreaker commissioned in late 2021, is crucial for Australia’s Antarctic research program and logistical support of its territories, including Heard Island – a largely uninhabited island home to Big Ben, a 2,745-meter-high active volcano.this grounding underscores ongoing operational challenges facing the vessel and perhaps impacts planned scientific expeditions. The AAD states the Nuyina remains operational, but the extent of the damage and repair timelines are still being assessed, potentially delaying the second planned voyage to Heard Island this year, part of a $17.6 million federal government investment in marine and environmental science missions over the past two years.
The incident happened while the Nuyina was deploying a seabed cable to improve communications with equipment on Heard Island. An AAD spokesperson stated the vessel briefly touched the seabed in an area that was previously surveyed, but contained unexpected variations in depth. Damage is limited to the sonar dome, which houses sensitive acoustic equipment used for mapping the seafloor and detecting marine life.
The Nuyina has faced several logistical and operational hurdles since its commissioning, including a costly refuelling issue stemming from being unable to pass under Hobart’s Tasman Bridge, as well as mechanical problems and faulty cranes that disrupted resupply missions. The latest incident raises further questions about the vessel’s operational readiness and the complexities of operating in the remote and challenging environment surrounding Heard Island.
