Australia's $528 million Antarctic icebreaker will be forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to refuel after it was denied permission to sail under a bridge in Hobart.
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Operations of the research and supply vessel Nuyina have been hindered by mechanical issues and maintenance delays since it arrived in Tasmania's capital in October 2021.
TasPorts in February 2022 announced it had given approval, subject to further testing, for Nuyina to pass under Hobart's Tasman Bridge to reach Selfs Point for refuelling.
The 160m-long vessel, crucial to the nation's Antarctic research and outpost resupply, is berthed at nearby Macquarie Wharf.
On Thursday the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) said it had received advice from TasPorts that Nuyina was not permitted under the bridge.
A division spokesman said the ship will refuel in Burnie on Tasmania's northwest coast for the upcoming summer season.
Tasmanian Harbour Master Mick Wall said a non-standard vessel assessment found Nuyina did not meet the minimum safe criteria to transit the bridge.
He said TasPorts' decision to grant an "approval pathway" in 2022 was subject to successfully completing a marine pilot familiarisation, sea trial program and simulation exercises.
Mr Wall said Nuyina's hull, designed for ice operations, does not have the same level of stability of other standard hulls when undertaking dynamic turns in windy conditions in confined waters.
"This means that the vessel would exceed the safe minimum clearing distances from the bridge pylons if the Nuyina attempted to transit the bridge," he said.
The division said it is working with the Tasmanian government to find a long-term Hobart refuelling option.
Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said assurances the Nuyina could be safely refuelled in Hobart now appear "farcical".
"Refuelling the Nuyina hundreds of kilometres away from the port originally earmarked to service the vessel will ... have environmental repercussions," he said in a statement.
"(It) presumably will also mean financial cost-savings will have to be found elsewhere in the AAD's operating budget.
"It's incredibly frustrating that this comes at a time when important science research programs are already facing significant budget pressures."
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said an independent business case exploring refuelling options at the Port of Hobart is expected to be finished in coming weeks.
Australian Associated Press
