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Rado Antolovic, Managing Director of P&O Maritime, a subsidiary of global marine terminal operator DP World, said: “The Aurora Australis and its crew have played a major role in the successful outcome coordinating with colleagues in Tasmania and across the company. Their combined experience of operating in the region and the specialised services of our vessels helped in the success of the mission. We wish the passengers all the best for the future as they disembark.” The Aurora Australis had been stationed in Antarctica d uring efforts to break through the ice in poor visibility and snow showers and took the passengers from the Russian vessel MV Akademik Shokalskiy after it became stranded in the ice pack in recent weeks. The transfer took place by helicopter from an ice floe next to the Russian ship to an ice floe next to Aurora Australis and passengers were then lifted on board using the Fast Rescue Craft The Aurora Australis is currently deployed as an icebreaking research and resupply vessel supporting the Australian Antarctic Division’s Antarctic programme. Duties include expeditionary and cargo transport to the Australian Government’s Antarctic bases and Sub-Antarctic territories as well as marine research in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters. 
Aurora Australis. Image by P&O Maritime
P&O Maritime owns, operates and manages a fleet of specialist vessels under long term customer contracts. Vessels include ownership and operation of the ice strengthened multipurpose support vessel L’Astrolabe for the French Government’s Institut Polaire Francais Paul Emile Victor Terres Australes at Antarctiques Francaises. The ship provides resupply services to Dumont d’Urville and undertakes some marine research in Antarctic waters. Other services include management and operation of scientific research vessel Southern Surveyor for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation for oceanographic, geoscientific, fishery and ecosystem research. The services are provided from the business opera tion base in Hobart which is a major centre of marine research in the Australasian region. About P&O Maritime P&O Maritime provides specialist maritime service solutions through its ownership, operation and management of a fleet of vessels designed for customers’ specific long term requirements. Following a restructure, the head office is now located alongside DP World corporate headquarters in Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE. The company has been operating in the industry since the 1960’s developed since that time into a diversified shipping service provider to both Govern ments and industry. About DP World DP World has a portfolio of more than 65 marine terminals across six continents (As of December 2013), including new developments underway in India, Africa, Europe, South America and the Middle East. Container handling is the company’s core business and generates around 80% of its revenue. In 2012, DP World handled more than 56 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units). With its committed pipeline of developments and expansions, capacity is expected to rise to more than 100 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand. DP World has a dedicated, experienced and professional team of 28,000 people serving its customers around the world, and the company constantly invests in terminal infra structure, facilities and people to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them. In taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted “Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 19 consecutive years. P&O Maritime press release |
P&O Maritime vessel Aurora Australis arrives in Hobart, Tasmania