Icebreaker name competition extended

A competition to name Australia's new icebreaker vessel has had its deadline extended with the Australian Antarctic Division wanting more school students to get involved.

Initially due to close on Friday, entires can now be submitted until July 7.

The winners will jet off to the frozen continent as their prize for naming the 156-metre ship, which is due for completion by 2020.

"We've received some great suggestions for the name so far ... (but) we decided to extend the competition to make sure we engage school children from all around Australia," the division's director Nick Gales said on Tuesday.