P&O Maritime vessel Aurora Australis in Antarctic rescue mission.

2 January 2014

The P&O Maritime vessel Aurora Australis has arrived to the east of the Akademik Shokalskiy and the Xue Long in Antarctica and contact has been made with the crews of both vessels.

The Aurora Australis will attempt to break through the ice in the morning due to poor visibility and snow showers.

The Aurora Australis is currently deployed with the Australian Government and is a Class 1A ice breaker with a capacity for two Sikorsky S76 or Bell Long Range helicopters. The 94 m long ship has a maximum speed of 16 knots and weighs 3,991 tons. It can accommodate 140 people (24 crew and 116 passengers).


Aurora Australis. Image by P&O Maritime

P&O Maritime press release