Aust icebreaker arriving in WA for repairs

Icebreaker Aurora Australis will arrive in Fremantle for repairs after breaking its moorings and hitting rocks in a blizzard in Antarctica.

The vessel was at Mawson Station on February 24 delivering supplies when 130km/h winds tossed it into Horseshoe Harbour, causing hull damage.

Japan has helped repatriate 66 Australian Antarctic expeditioners by diverting from its own scientific program to transfer the expeditioners the 2300km from Mawson to Casey research station, where they arrived safely on Saturday.

The expeditioners will be flown home on the Australian Antarctic Division's Airbus A319 in the next couple of days.

The US and Chinese Antarctic programs also provided logistical support to the Australian Antarctic Division following the vessel's grounding.

The Aurora Australis left for Fremantle with essential personnel on March 2 and was expected to arrive in Fremantle about 3pm on Saturday.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt thanked the international Antarctic community for its help ahead of the icebreaker's arrival in Western Australia.