RSV Nuyina Statement

Marine safety is TasPorts’ number one priority.

Tasmanian Harbour Master Mick Wall said protection of human life, marine assets and the environment were critical considerations for all vessel movements in Tasmanian waters.

“A Non-Standard Vessel Assessment (NSVA) conducted at the request of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) in relation to the suitability of the RSV Nuyina to transit the Tasman Bridge has found that the vessel does not meet the minimum safe criteria to transit the Tasman Bridge.”

“The collaborative review was undertaken by the Office of the Harbour Master and AAD.”

TasPorts’ decision to grant the RSV Nuyina an approval pathway to transit the Tasman Bridge in early 2022 was subject to successfully completing a comprehensive Marine Pilot Familiarisation and sea trial program at the Port of Hobart and via simulation exercises at the Australian Maritime College (AMC).

“Ensuring TasPorts’ team of highly qualified and experienced marine pilots were familiar with the bespoke vessel and the way it maneuvered was pivotal to providing a final assessment for clearance the bridge transit.”

“The NSVA now complete has found that it does not meet the minimum safe criteria to transit the bridge,” he said.

“The RSV Nuyina’s non-linear and rounded hull, designed for ice operations, does not have a standard parallel bodied under water area and, as observed on a number of occasions during on-water trials, does not possess the same level of directional stability found in other standard hull form designs 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 RSV Nuyina attempted to transit the Bridge.”

Background and relevant dates of interest

On 28 February 2022, following the completion of extensive and diligent risk assessments, including complex simulation exercises and a peer review by a leading international maritime consultant, TasPorts provided the RSV Nuyina with conditional approval to transit the Tasman Bridge.

That approval was subject to the successful completion of a comprehensive Marine Pilot Familiarisation Program, including harbour trials within the Port of Hobart, followed by further simulation exercises at the Australian Maritime College (AMC).

Harbour trials were initially undertaken on 1 April 2022 followed by simulation trials at the AMC on 12 May 2022.

The trials confirmed that a bespoke set of environmental parameters are required for transiting the Tasman Bridge.

Shortly after this, the vessel departed for Singapore for scheduled maintenance and remained in Singapore for an extended period.

On her return to Tasmania in late April 2023, the RSV Nuyina underwent on-water trials as part of the safety case assessment being undertaken by the Office of the Harbour Master.

The Non-Standard Vessel Assessment is now complete and has found that the RSV Nuyina does not meet the minimum safe criteria to transit the Tasman Bridge.