Defence called on for potential airdrop supply mission to Antarctic expeditioners after icebreaker's cargo cranes fail

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Antarctica News

Australian Antarctic Division,Mawson Hut,Hobart

A Senate inquiry has heard the Department of Defence has been enlisted to potentially deliver supplies, including much-needed coffee, to Mawson Station after an earlier resupply voyage was disrupted when cranes malfunctioned on Australia's $528 million icebreaker.

A defence aircraft could be deployed to Antarctica to deliver much-needed supplies to Mawson Station via an airdrop, a Senate inquiry has been told.

"We are working through the logistics on that and hopeful that that defence asset will be available."Ms Campbell said while some essential supplies were able to be delivered last month, other cargo including building materials and dry goods were stuck on board the vessel."But clearly having more equipment for the trades, and those personal effects and the coffee are really important as well for quality of life for our expeditioners.

"You can understand that people have been there for a year and are very keen to get home and we're certainly looking at options."The blowout triggered concerns that science programs could be adversely impacted by subsequent efforts to rein in spending. Following the hearing, Senator Duniam said the inquiry had uncovered "a great many troubling findings".

Australian Antarctic Division Mawson Hut Hobart

 

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