Antarctic Supply and Research Vessel Nuyina
The complex and sophisticated 160‐metre Antarctic Supply and Research Vessel (ASRV) is Australia’s new, world‐beating, Antarctic icebreaker.
With this state-of-the-art replacement vessel, the AAD will be equipped to continue scientific expeditions to the Antarctic for at least another 30 years.
The vessel, named RSV Nuyina, will replace the research vessel Aurora Australis, operated on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).
A complex and large project
On board the RSV Nuyina, Alewijnse is responsible for the engineering, delivery and installation of the vessel’s entire electrical installation. This included the main power installation, the propulsion and thruster control systems, and the integrated platform management system.
Alewijnse Technical Project Manager Patrick van Keulen, commented: “We are very proud to be responsible for the complete electrical system integration on board RSV Nuyina. The level of complexity and sheer size of this project is huge. For example, the vessel has to be able to operate at temperatures as low as -30˚C and have the ability to break ice up to 1.65 metres thick. This means that the equipment and materials used must be tremendously durable and the design of the main propulsion line including the integration with the main power distribution network is exceptionally complicated. This is a great opportunity for Alewijnse to showcase the capabilities it has available to successfully undertake these types of projects.”
Contributing to the preservation of the Antarctic
“Alewijnse is thrilled to be playing a significant role in realizing this once-in-a-generation project, as the building of this type of vessel is not a frequent occurrence”, Patrick van Keulen added. “We are also very pleased that this project will allow Alewijnse to contribute to the purpose of the vessel’s main mission; that is, preserving one of the most unspoiled and special places on our planet Earth.”
