Capable of deploying a wide range of vehicles, including helicopters, landing barges and amphibious trucks to support the resupply operation, the new ship provides a modern platform for marine science research in both sea ice and open water with a large moon pool for launching and retrieving sampling equipment and remotely operated vehicles.

[10] Following a contractual agreement on 28 April 2016 with DMS Maritime, a subsidiary of Serco, for delivery, operation and maintenance, the ship's design and construction was contracted to Damen Group.

[19] It was manufactured in Maryborough, Queensland, by Olds Engineering,[20] from AS1567 - C92610 commonly referred to as G1 or ‘Admiralty gunmetal’, 88% copper, 10% tin, 2% zinc, supplied by Hayes Metals of New Zealand & Australia.

[27] In 2023, it was reported that Nuyina would have to sail to Burnie on the other side of Tasmania, some 360 nautical miles (670 km) away by sea, for refuelling before heading out to Antarctica.

The ship's permission to pass under the Tasman Bridge to reach the refuelling station at Selfs Point, about 2.2 nautical miles (4 km) from its home berth in Hobart, was revoked due to safety concerns: due to its icebreaking hull form demonstrating excessive side slip during simulations and sea trials, Nuyina was found to have insufficient directional stability to safely complete the turn required before passing between the bridge pylons when sailing out.

[29][30][31] In late August 2023, the Nuyina sailed from Tasmania towards Australia's Casey Station research base on the Bailey Peninsula in Antarctica.