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Icebreaker may face breakers

The 'Aurora Australis' is headed to the ship-breaking beaches of south Asia, unless funds for its purchase and maintenance can be found within weeks. The ship faced its end unless $1.5 million can be raised to buy it from owners P&O Maritime. The icebreaker ferried about 14,000 expeditioners across the Southern Ocean The non-profit Aurora Australis Foundation tried raise funds to purchase the vessel from P&O. Hobart would be the best place for ship if it could be rescued and turned into a museum.

Icebreaker back home

The "Aurora Australia" has arrived in Fremantle on Mar 12 for repairs after running aground in Antarctica. The icebreaker had left Antarctica on Mar 2. The stranded expeditioners were due to be flown back to Australia in the next few days.

Icebreaker cleared to sail

The "Aurora Australis" has been cleared to return to Australia without the expeditioners. The damage assessment has taken four days to complete and has involved thorough internal inspections of each of the tanks affected by grounding on the starboard side. The exterior of the hull was also examined using underwater imagery systems. The grounding caused only minor structural damage to the hull, and the propulsion and steering capability have not been affected. Some tanks will require attention on the ships return to Australia. The ship will make the 11-day return trip with only essential crew on board. The expeditioners who were aboard the Aurora Australis when it grounded remain at Australia's Mawson Station. The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) was working on a plan to bring the expeditioners to Australia. 30 expeditioners from Davis Station who were also scheduled to return on the ship arrived in Hobart on Mar 2 night. After receiving assistance from the United States, they were flown from Davis to the US-run McMurdo Station, and are flying into Hobart on board an A-319 plane.