RSV Nuyina

The original concept was developed by the Danish engineering company Knud E Hansen, and the design and construction is being managed by the Dutch Damen Group, which built the vessel in its Romania yard.[10]

Following contractual agreement on 28 April 2016[11] with DMS Maritime (a subsidiary of Serco) for delivery, operation and maintenance, the ship's design and construction was contracted to Damen Group. Design[12] was contracted to naval architects Knud E Hansen of Denmark. The keel laying was in August 2017[12] 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.[10] As of March 2018, about 7,000 tons out of 10,000 had been cut and the base of the hull had been completed.[13] In September 2018 the hull was successfully floated in the building dock and taken to the outfitting quay.[14] It was then towed to Vlissingen in the Netherlands for fitting out.[15]

The vessel was handed over on 19 August 2021,[4] and by September travelled from the Netherlands to Australia.[16]

The bell for the Bridge of RSV Nuyina[17] was presented by the President of the ANARE Club[18] at the ship’s official launch on 18 December 2021.[19] It was manufactured in Maryborough, Queensland, by Olds Engineering,[20] 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).[21]

The bell was engraved in Bendigo, Victoria, by National Engraving,[22] and 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.

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.[10] The name was suggested by school students in a competition, and is jointly attributed to students from St Virgil's College, Hobart and Secret Harbour Primary School, Perth.

The name Nuyina evokes the names of previous ships involved in Australian Antarctic research and investigation:[10]

• 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

Nuyina began sea trials in the North Sea on 23 November 2020.[23]

Nuyina entered Damen Schiedam dry-dock in February 2021 for unspecified reason.

It will be operated by Serco[24] under the direction of the Australian Antarctic Division for the Australian Government and will be supporting 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.[25][26] It resumed service in May 2023.[27]

In late August 2023, the Nuyina sailed from Tasmania towards Australia's Casey research base on the Bailey Peninsula. Two helicopters from the Nuyina rescued a member of the team at the base who was suffering a medical emergency that required evacuation.[28]

• Damen specification brochure
• Knud E. Hansen design details