Aurora Australis (icebreaker)
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For other uses, see Aurora (disambiguation).
The Aurora Australis is an icebreaker under the command of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Designed as a multi-purpose research and resupply ship, it was built by P&O Polar and launched in September 1989.
The Aurora Australis is chartered by the AAD over the southern summer, and spends most winters in port in Hobart, Tasmania, as the AAD headquarters is in Kingston, Tasmania, near Hobart. P&O sometimes charter the ship for other work during winter.
The ship has a hangar and helideck, so can carry helicopters, normally either three Squirrels or two Sikorsky S-76s.