Designed as a multi-purpose research and resupply ship, Aurora Australis was built by Carrington Slipways in Tomago, New South Wales.^[2] The vessel was launched in September 1989.^[2][3]

Aurora Australis is 94.91 metres (311.4 ft) long, and has a beam of 20.3 metres (67 ft), draught of 7.862 metres (25.79 ft) and moulded depth of 10.43 metres (34.2 ft). Her displacement is 8,158 tons, gross tonnage 6,574 and deadweight tonnage 3,911 tons.^[2]

Her propulsion machinery consists of two Wärtsilä medium-speed diesel engines in father-son arrangement, one 16-cylinder 16V32D producing 5,500 kW and one 12-cylinder 12V32D producing 4,500 kW. Both engines are coupled to a single shaft through a reduction gear, driving a single, left-hand-turning controllable-pitch propeller.^[4]

Slow speed manoeuvring is achieved with three manoeuvring thrusters, one forward and two aft.^[4] Aurora Australis has a maximum speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph),^{[citation needed]} and a cruising speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph).^[2] The vessel can break level ice up to 1.23 metres (4 ft 0 in) thick at 2.5 knots (4.6 km/h; 2.9 mph).^[2][5]

Aurora Australis had a crew of 24^[5] and could carry up to 116 passengers accommodated in three or four-bunk cabins with attached bathrooms.^[2][6] The ship has a cargo capacity of 1,700 cubic metres (60,000 cu ft) for break bulk or 29 twenty-foot equivalent containers, and a supply tank that can hold 1,000 cubic metres (35,000 cu ft) of fuel.^{[citation needed]} The ship is fitted with laboratories for biological, meteorological, and oceanographic research, and was designed with a trawl deck for the deployment and recovery of research instruments while at sea.^[2] The ship's hangar and helideck allow for the operation of up to three helicopters,^[2] usually Eurocopter Squirrels or Sikorsky S-76s.^{[citation needed]}

Aurora Australis was chartered by the AAD over the southern summer for research purposes, and to support the Antarctic bases operated by the AAD.^[6] The vessel spent most winters in port in Hobart, as the AAD headquarters is in the nearby town of Kingston.^{[citation needed]} P&O sometimes chartered the ship for other work during winter.^{[citation needed]}

On 8 May 2011, Aurora Australis was chartered by the Department of Defence for a two-month deployment, ending 30 June, as an amphibious transport ship supporting the Royal Australian Navy.^[6] The charter, costing A$3.375 million, was to assist in the Australian government response to humanitarian crises and natural disasters that occurred while the naval heavy lift ship HMAS Tobruk underwent maintenance.^[6]

In late December 2013, Aurora Australis, Chinese research vessel Xuě Lóng and French icebreaker L'Astrolabe attempted to rescue Akademik Shokalskiy, which had become stranded in thick Antarctic ice in Watt Bay.^[7][8] None of the three ships were able to reach the Russian icebreaker, with Aurora Australis aborting efforts on the morning of 30 December, due to the risk of the ship also becoming stuck.^[7][8] On 2 February, the 52 passengers from Akademik Shokalskiy were transported by helicopter to Aurora Australis by Xuě Lóng's helicopter, the Chinese icebreaker having become trapped as well.^[9] After the rescue, Aurora Australis continued on her original mission to resupply Casey Station, before returning to Hobart on 22 January.^[10][11]

The Aurora Australis returned from its final voyage in March 2020. After 31 years of service to the Australian Antarctic Program, the last trip was a two-week voyage to resupply Macquarie Island and transport expeditioners to the south. Suggestions have been made that the ship could be used as an emergency vessel if acquired by the Australian Government.^[12] Another possible use that was suggested for the ship was as an Antarctic-themed museum berthed in Hobart. A not-for-profit organisation, the Aurora Australis Foundation, was established to explore this option. However, by June 2020 it looked like the most likely outcome for the Aurora Australis was to be sold to the Government of Argentina for further Antarctic deployment.^[13][14]

At 2.25am on 22 July 1998 whilst en route to Antarctica a fire broke out in the engine room. The researchers were on the first winter voyage to the Antarctic, a seven-week expedition to explore, the Mertz Glacier Polynya. ^{[15] [16]}

On 14 January 1999 whilst en route to Antarctica a fire caused by leaking high pressure diesel igniting on the hot STBD main engine caused a major fire. The fire resulted in zero visibility in the engine room and was suppressed by the release of halonium ion fire suppression system. Re-entry to the compartment resulted in successful restoration of power and propulsion to the ship and it returned to Fremantle under its own power for an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and major repairs.^[17]

On 24 February 2016, the vessel was damaged when it ran aground in Horseshoe Harbour, near Mawson Station, Antarctica, during a blizzard, after a shackle on a forward mooring line came undone, causing the other three lines to break. It was refloated on 27 February 2016 and returned to Western Australia for repairs.^[18][19][20]

In October 2015, the Australian government announced a plan to acquire a new icebreaker to replace Aurora Australis by 2019.^[21] Nuyina entered service in 2021.^[22][23]

Aurora Australis was decommissioned in 2020, amid attempts to retain the vessel in Hobart as a floating museum.^[24] Although these efforts were unsuccessful, the ship's tender, Aurora Australis II, was acquired by the Aurora Australis Foundation with the aim of making it the centrepiece of an Australian Antarctic Museum.^[25]

•   Media related to IMO 8717283 at Wikimedia Commons
• Webcam aboard Aurora Australis
• Breaking the Ice – blog from Aurora Australis by Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Karen Barlow, during the January–February 2011 scientific trip to Mertz Glacier