Lexi Webster
The RSV Aurora Australis, also known as the 'Orange Roughy', was a multi-purpose vessel designed for polar operations. It was launched in September 1989 and concluded its service with the Australian Antarctic Division in 2020. The ship was designed to support research stations and transport expeditioners to and from isolated bases and camps in Antarctica. After 31 years of service, the Aurora Australis returned from its final voyage in March 2020. As of 2025, the former Aurora Australis is laid up in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, renamed the Aurora Dubai.
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What You'll Learn
- The Aurora Australis is currently laid up in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, as the Aurora Dubai
- The ship's final voyage concluded in March 2020, after 31 years of service
- In 1998, a fire broke out in the engine room
- The Aurora Australis was designed to support research and supply expeditions
- The ship was built in Newcastle, Australia, and launched in September 1989
The Aurora Australis is currently laid up in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, as the Aurora Dubai
The RSV Aurora Australis is a multi-purpose research and resupply vessel designed for polar operations. It was launched in September 1989 and concluded its Australian Antarctic service in 2020. The ship was designed by Wartsila Marine Industries of Finland and built at Carrington Slipways in Newcastle, Australia.
Aurora Australis was well-equipped for marine science research with various laboratories, a commercial-sized trawl deck, and a hydroacoustic system. It also featured recreation facilities like a gym, library, and entertainment systems. The ship played a crucial role in supporting Australian bases and stations and facilitating research operations.
In 2020, after 31 years of service, Aurora Australis completed its final voyage for the Australian Antarctic Division. Following its retirement, the ship's fate remained uncertain, with suggestions ranging from use as an emergency vessel to becoming a museum in Hobart.
As of 2025, the former Aurora Australis is laid up in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, having been renamed the Aurora Dubai. Its current status suggests that the ship may no longer be operational but awaits potential repurposing or refurbishment. The Aurora Dubai's presence in Vietnam marks a new chapter in the ship's history, awaiting its next assignment or owner.
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The ship's final voyage concluded in March 2020, after 31 years of service
The RSV Aurora Australis was launched in September 1989 and concluded its service in March 2020, marking 31 years of service. The ship was designed by Wartsila Marine Industries of Finland and built at Carrington Slipways in Newcastle, Australia. It was purpose-built for the Australian Antarctic Program, owned by P&O Maritime Services, and operated by P&O Polar.
Aurora Australis was a highly sophisticated multi-purpose vessel designed to support research and supply expedition voyages in both tropical and polar regions. It was well-equipped for marine science research with various laboratories, a trawl deck, and a hydroacoustic system. The ship could accommodate up to 116 passengers and 24 crew members in cabins with attached bathrooms. It had a cargo capacity of 1,700 cubic metres and a fuel supply tank capable of holding 1,000 cubic metres.
The ship played a crucial role in supporting Australian bases and stations in Antarctica and facilitating scientific research. It had a long and distinguished career, carrying more than 14,000 expeditioners on over 150 scientific research and resupply voyages. Its final voyage in 2020 was a two-week trip to resupply Macquarie Island and transport expeditioners to the south.
Aurora Australis also faced several challenges during its service. There were fires in the engine room in 1998 and 1999, propeller damage, and besetment in the ice. Despite these obstacles, the ship and its crew demonstrated resilience and safely returned to port each time.
After its final voyage, there were suggestions for the ship's future use, including as an emergency vessel for the Australian Government or as an Antarctic-themed museum in Hobart. However, as of 2020, it appeared likely that the Aurora Australis would be sold to the Government of Argentina for further Antarctic deployment.
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In 1998, a fire broke out in the engine room
The duty engineer had been woken by an alarm from the unmanned machinery space monitoring panel in his cabin about 25 minutes before the fire broke out. He inspected the engine room, cancelled the alarm, and returned to his cabin, where he was roused again by another alarm at 2:25 am. Upon returning to the engine room, he discovered a fire at the forward end of the port main engine, around the turbocharger. The engineers used portable extinguishers to put out the fire, and the ship's crew and expeditioners responded quickly and effectively to minimise the danger.
The fire caused damage to the port engine and turbochargers, but the most critical damage was to the electrical wiring of power and control circuits carried in cable trays. There was also water damage due to pipes freezing in the Antarctic conditions. Over the next three days, the ship's crew carried out repairs and rigged electrical wiring to restore power to the starboard engine and ancillary equipment. The Aurora Australis arrived back in Hobart on July 31, 1998, under its own power.
An investigation revealed that the fire's fuel source was a split flexible hose between the port engine fuel filters and a length of rigid pipe on the fuel spill line. It was also found that four out of ten halon gas bottles failed to discharge, contributing to the incident. The flexible fuel hoses had been fitted without modifying the ship's drawings, and no approval was sought from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for their installation. The poor design of the electrical operating system for the Halon 1301 fixed smothering system led to its unreliable operation and partial discharge during the fire.
The Aurora Australis, affectionately known as the "Orange Roughy" due to its bright orange colour, had a long and distinguished career in the Australian Antarctic Program. It served as the main lifeline to Australia's Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations and concluded its service in 2020.
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The Aurora Australis was designed to support research and supply expeditions
The Aurora Australis was a highly sophisticated multi-purpose vessel designed to support research and supply expeditions. It was purpose-built for the Australian Antarctic Program by P&O Polar and launched in September 1989. The ship was designed by Wartsila Marine Industries of Finland and constructed by Carrington Slipways in Newcastle, Australia.
The Aurora Australis was well-equipped for marine science research with a range of laboratories, including a hydrographic lab, meteorological lab, and a general-purpose wet lab. It also featured a commercial-sized trawl deck and a hydroacoustic system for studying Southern Ocean organisms. The ship supported research operations by providing a platform for the deployment and recovery of research instruments at sea.
In addition to its research capabilities, the Aurora Australis was designed to transport expeditioners to and from isolated bases and camps. It had a cargo capacity of 1,700 cubic metres and could carry up to 116 passengers in a combination of single, double, triple, and quadruple berth cabins. The ship also had recreation facilities, including a gym, library, bar, and video/music systems, as well as a hospital with an operating room, consulting room, and sick bay.
The Aurora Australis played a crucial role in supporting Australian bases and stations in Antarctica. It was regularly chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) for research cruises and to ensure the supply and support of these bases. The vessel spent most winters in port in Hobart, near the AAD headquarters in Kingston.
After a long and distinguished career, the Aurora Australis was decommissioned in 2020 and replaced by the new icebreaker RSV Nuyina. There were attempts to retain the vessel in Hobart as a floating museum, but it appears that it was sold to the Government of Argentina for further Antarctic deployment.
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The ship was built in Newcastle, Australia, and launched in September 1989
The RSV Aurora Australis was built in Newcastle, Australia, and launched in September 1989. It was designed by Wartsila Marine Industries of Finland and constructed at Carrington Slipways in Tomago, New South Wales.
The ship was purpose-built for the Australian Antarctic Program, a division of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, and was the main vessel supporting Australia's Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research for many decades. The Aurora Australis was well-equipped for marine science research, with a commercial-sized trawl deck, hydroacoustic systems, multiple laboratories, and ample storage and accommodation facilities.
The vessel was also designed to withstand challenging polar conditions and was highly sophisticated, capable of operating in both tropical and polar regions. It had a crew of 24 and could carry up to 116 passengers in addition to ample cargo and fuel storage capacity.
The Aurora Australis had a long and illustrious career, affectionately nicknamed the 'Orange Roughy' due to its bright orange colour. It carried more than 14,000 expeditioners on over 150 scientific research and resupply voyages during its 31 years of service.
In 2020, the Aurora Australis concluded its Australian Antarctic service, and a new icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina, was introduced to replace it.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, the Aurora Australis, now known as the Aurora Dubai, is laid up in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam.
The Aurora Australis was a multi-purpose research and resupply vessel designed for polar operations. It was used to support Australian bases and stations in Antarctica and for research operations. The ship was also used to rescue tourists and crew from a nearby vessel.
The Aurora Australis was in service for 31 years, from 1989 to 2020.
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