Arctech Helsinki Shipyard has delivered the first icebreaker capable of being powered by liquefied natural gas to the Finnish government.
The 110m Polaris was delivered on Sept. 28 to the Finnish Transport Agency and turned over to Arctia Icebreaking, the state-owned company that will operate the vessel. The Polaris and can run on either LNG or low sulphur diesel oil and complies with the international IMO Tier III emission standards and special requirements for sulphur emissions in the Baltic Sea. The vessel has been designed according to the zero-emission principle and will store all solid and liquid waste on board to be unloaded ashore. Concept design for the icebreaker was made by Aker Arctic Technology Inc. and ILS Ltd.
The Polaris is equipped with Wärtsilä engines and three Azipod propulsion units rotating 360 degrees to enhance maneuverability.
Although the ship’s main purpose is icebreaking, Polaris also is equipped to perform oil spill response operations and emergency towing in both winter and summer, and will therefore operate year-round in the Baltic Sea. The vessel is able to operate in temperatures as cold as -30°С.
“Icebreaker Polaris is an extremely versatile vessel,” said Esko Mustamäki, managing director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. “She can operate in all ice conditions in the Baltic Sea and use in all circumstances either gas or diesel oil as fuel. We are proud we had this opportunity to build the vessel that will serve the Finnish winter navigation in coming decades.”
Polaris specs
Length: 110 m
Breadth: 24.4 m
Draught, design: 8 m
Speed: 17 kn
Gross Tonnage: 9300
Deadweight: 3000 t
Crew: 16 (+8)
Classification: Lloyd’s Register
Ice class: PC4
Diesel-electric propulsion
Main engines: Wärtsilä 2x 6000 kW, 2x 4500 kW, 1x 1280 kW, Dual fuel
Azimuth prop. units ABB Azipod 2x 6500 kW (stern), 1 x 6000 kW (bow)
LNG tanks: 2 x 400 m3
Oil recovery capacity: 1400 m3
Towing winch: 300 m, 110 t
Bollard pull: 214 t
Icebreaking capability: 3.5 kn / 1.8 m
