Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has released details of Australia's new Antarctic icebreaker on his first tour of Tasmania since taking over the top job almost two months ago.

Mr Turnbull said the sophisticated ship, believed to cost about half a billion dollars, would offer scientists unprecedented and extended access to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who is with the Prime Minister in Hobart, said the name of the ship had not been decided.

"There will be a public competition to name Australia's new icebreaker," he said.

The new, custom-built ship will be faster, larger, stronger and offer increased endurance compared with the ageing Aurora Australis, which has been sailing the Southern Ocean since 1989.

Mr Hunt said it would be a significant investment in Australia's science sector.

"This is the largest investment in the Antarctic science and research program in Australia's history, by an enormous amount and an enormous degree," he said.

Key points: Believed to cost around $500 million

Believed to cost around $500 million Represent's largest investment in Antarctic science and research

Represent's largest investment in Antarctic science and research New icebreaker will be operational in 2019

New icebreaker will be operational in 2019 A national competition will be held to name the vessel

A national competition will be held to name the vessel At 156 metres, ship more than 50pc longer than Aurora Australia

At 156 metres, ship more than 50pc longer than Aurora Australia Icebreaking capacity of 1.65 metres at 3 knots

Icebreaking capacity of 1.65 metres at 3 knots Can carry 96 containers and 116 staff

A multi-beam bathymetric echo sounder will give the new ship the added ability of seafloor mapping, while portable and flexible science laboratories will offer scientists space to conduct cutting-edge research.

Mr Turnbull said the design challenges of the new-generation icebreaker included combining the necessary rounded hull while maintaining stability in high seas.

"I'm very proud to be here as your PM, with the Environment Minister, to share with you the first view of what will be Australia's new Antarctic icebreaker," he said

"This is a new next-generation successor to the Aurora Australis.

"There is a very interesting design challenge with icebreakers, because they need to have a rounded hull to ensure that if they get caught in the ice they pop up, rather than getting jammed, but that creates challenges when travelling, steaming in big seas.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses staff at the Australian Antarctic Division which will be responsible for the new icebreaker. ( ABC News: Sam Ikin )

"So how do you provide the stability in a vessel with a hull like that?"

The icebreaker will be larger than the Aurora Australis at a length of 156 metres and carry more cargo, along with 116 expeditioners.

The new ship will have about 3,000 square metres more cargo space and be able to take 96 containers of supplies, compared to the Aurora's 34.

The preferred tenderer for the project is Australian company DNS Maritime but the construction would take place in the Netherlands.

Mr Turnbull said building the ship in Australia was not feasible.

"The business of building icebreakers ... is not located in Australia, it's clearly a northern hemisphere industry and a specialty," he said.

"This is a niche vessel so I don't think it's surprising that all the tenderers involved an overseas yard."

Turnbull has only revealed a 'toy model': Greens

Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said Mr Turnbull revealed nothing more than a toy model.

Loading

"Obviously no contract has been issued for its construction," he said.

"They really need to provide some certainty that the contract is underway and that we actually are going to have the icebreaker by 2019."

Chair of the Tasmanian Polar Network, John Brennan, said he was excited by the prospect of the new icebreaker.

"I think there's a statement here that Australia will have a modern icebreaker," he said.

"For the port of Hobart, that means it'll need to be serviced, there'll need to be maintenance and fuel and food and Tasmanian suppliers and businesses will benefit from that."

Mr Brennan said robust and increased science funding was needed for Tasmania.

Tasmania focus of renewed investment in science

Under previous prime minister Tony Abbott the Government was criticised for its level of investment in science.

Mr Hunt said recent investment in research in Tasmania proved the Government was increasing its spending on the science sector, particularly in Tasmania.

"What we've done is invest in Hobart and Tasmania and an Antarctic science destination and centre," he said.

"We've put in place the investment in the cooperative research centre of $25 million, the Antarctic gateway partnership of $24 million, the investment in the runway [at Hobart international airport] of $24 million which will allow us to have greater operations supporting science in Antarctica.

"And only yesterday the announcement of the marine biodiversity hub worth $24 million."

Senator Whish-Wilson criticised the timeframe of the Federal Government's response to a 20-year Antarctic Strategy by Dr Tony Press.

The Government commissioned the report and it was released in October 2014.

"If they want to give the science community and the Antarctic community in Hobart certainty about future funding and of course, future employment, then they really need to respond to that review," he said.

Prime Minister feted by 'three amigos'

The Prime Minister flew into Hobart last night and headed to New Norfolk in the Derwent Valley for a community breakfast earlier this morning.

It is the first time Mr Turnbull has visited Tasmania since the leadership spill in early September when all three of the state's federal Lower House Liberal MPs publicly backed his rival Tony Abbott.

Since then the "three amigos" — Braddon MP Brett Whiteley, Bass MP Andrew Nikolic and Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson — have pledged their support for Mr Turnbull and will act as his tour guides over the next two days.

Unlike the fly-in, fly-out visits favoured by some of his predecessors, Mr Turnbull has settled in for a more lengthy stay.

He will spend the morning in the state's south visiting Kingston, before flying to the north west to visit a dairy farm and discuss politics at a Devonport pub in the evening.

He will finish his trip in Launceston where he plans to meet and greet locals on Friday.

Mr Abbott had rewarded the loyalty of the three Tasmanian representatives with frequent visits to the state.

With a federal election due next year, possibly as early as March, holding the three electorates won at the 2013 federal election will be crucial to the Coalition's re-election fortunes.