In a major announcement the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long will dock in Hobart twice this summer, bringing huge benefits to Tasmania’s Antarctic sector and our local economy.
The announcement was made by the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration during meetings as part of the Tasmanian Government’s Asia Trade and Investment Mission.
This will be the first time the Xue Long has made two separate port calls to Hobart in one summer, confirming the increasing importance of Hobart as an Antarctic hub.
The Xue Long has previously docked in Hobart in 2014, coinciding with the visit to Hobart of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the signing of an agreement to increase collaboration in Antarctic Science.
The Tasmanian Polar community will again warmly welcome colleagues from China and Tasmania will greatly benefit from these visits through opportunities for procurement and science collaboration.
The direct value of the two port calls to the local economy is estimated at up to $2.5 million.
Meetings between the Tasmanian Government’s Antarctic team and members of the Tasmanian Polar Network with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration were a valuable opportunity to further strengthen our ties and promote our increasing logistics capabilities including a $60 million dedicated Antarctic berth at Macquarie and a specialised logistics centre at Hobart Airport.
The Antarctic sector is a valuable industry sector contributing more than $180 million each year to our economy and supporting around 1,200 jobs.
