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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Henry Belot

Australia’s $528m Antarctic icebreaker too big to fit under Tasman bridge to refuel

The icebreaker RSV Nuyina
The icebreaker RSV Nuyina is berthed at Hobart, but will have to travel to Burnie on the north-west coast of Tasmania to refuel since it is unable to pass safely under the Tasman Bridge. Photograph: Australian Antarctic Division Handout/EPA

Australia’s new state-of-the-art $528m icebreaking Antarctic research vessel has been refused permission to travel underneath Hobart’s Tasman bridge to refuel, and must instead sail hundreds of kilometres north to another port.

Tasmania’s port authority has long been concerned the 160m-long ship is too big to safely pass underneath the bridge, despite the Australian Antarctic Division’s previous assurances that it can.

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