Veteran Icebreaker Leaves Australia for Dubai

The giant orange icebreaker Aurora Australis left Australia for the final time on Saturday after more than 150 trips to Antarctica. Next stop: a shipyard in Dubai, where it will be refurbished and either leased or sold.

The Aurora Australis left Australia for the final time on Saturday, Dec. 12, after more than 150 trips to Antarctica.
Photographer: Sarah Motherwell/AAP Image via AP

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By Associated Press

December 12, 2020 at 2:31 AM UTC

Updated on

December 12, 2020 at 4:14 PM UTC

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Hobart, Australia (AP) -- The giant orange icebreaker Aurora Australis left Australia for the final time on Saturday after more than 150 trips to Antarctica. Next stop: a shipyard in Dubai, where it will be refurbished and either leased or sold.

The Australian Antarctic Division announced earlier this year that after 30 years of sailing to the frozen continent for research and to support Australian bases in Antarctica, the Aurora Australis would be replaced by a larger ship.