Finland Times

The Finnish Transport Agency informed about the results of the tendering process on Wednesday.

The Agency decided to procure a new icebreaker to renew the aging fleet of state-owned icebreakers, to improve the level of icebreaker services and to ensure the competitiveness of Finnish exports.

The procurement is worth EUR 123 million and the final contract will be signed by the end of February. The vessel will be delivered by winter 2016.

 The new icebreaker of the Finnish Transport Agency features the highest technology and has been designed especially for the demanding icebreaking operations in the Baltic Sea.

The vessel will be able to move continuously through about 1.6 m thick ice, to break a 25 meter wide channel in 1.2 meter thick ice at speed of 6 knots, as well as to reach 9...11 knots of

average assistance speed in the Baltic Sea. In open water the service speed will be minimum 16 knots.

The icebreaker will use both diesel and LNG as its fuel, which diminishes its emissions and operating costs. The vessel will also be equipped for oil spill response operations and emergency towing missions.