Aker Arctic Technology Inc along with the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA) inked a contract for the development and the design of next generation icebreakers.
Namely, this joint procurement is a continuation of an extensive and close cooperation between Finland and Sweden.
What is more, the design project is worth EUR 3–4 million, while the work will be completed by the end of 2021.
At the moment, no decision has been made yet on the construction of icebreakers.
In the process to design the new generation of icebreakers, the emphasis is to find solutions to maintain the service level as the operating environment changes.
An adequate level of assistance available from icebreakers is a prerequisite for ensuring that the raw materials and different products are in the right place at the right time. New types of solutions are expected from this design project to respond to changes in the operating environment as well as to maintain an adequate level of service also in the future.
…as Kari Wihlman, Director-General of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, said.
What is more, the new icebreaker is required to be able to assist ships with 32 m beam. Cost-effective operation, low life-cycle costs, the transition to fossil-free fuel by 2030 and the reduction of CO2 emissions are also important goals.
The Swedish industry is dependent on icebreaking in the Baltic Sea up to 130 days a year. Our current fleet is old with increasing needs of repairs. Therefore we very much look forward to the design of the next generation of icebreakers to service larger ships in a fossil free environment.
….Katarina Norén, Director-General of the Swedish Maritime Administration, concluded.
