The Finnish Transport Agency is procuring a new icebreaker to replace the old icebreaking fleet. The chosen shipyard to build the icebreaker was Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Oy.
Tendering process was carried out according to the public procurement regulation. The shipbuilding contract is planned to be sign by the end of this year and building of the icebreaker will start at the beginning of the next year.
At the spring 2013 the Finnish Transport Agency signed a contract with Aker Arctic Technology Oy for the design of the new icebreaker. Aker Arctic will design the vessel in cooperation with ILS Oy.
The new icebreaker represents the latest high technology and it has been designed for the most demanding icebreaking conditions in the Baltic Sea. The icebreaker will be able to move continuously through about 1.6 m thick level ice and to break a 25 meter wide channel in 1.2 meter thick ice at speed of 6 knots. The icebreaker is powered by diesel and LNG (liquefied natural gas), which reduces the emissions and fuel costs. In addition, the new icebreaker is equipped for oil spill response operations and will perform emergency towing missions.
[mappress]
Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, November 28, 2013