Finland Times

 

File Photo of Ice Breaker. Photo Lehtikuva.

The transport ministry is preparing to sell the controversial icebreaker ordered for the Finnish Transport Agency about a year ago.

 

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard announced in January that it would build the new icebreaker for the Finnish Transport Agency.

 

In its place, the government intends to acquire new vessels from the state-owned Arctia Shipping for a billion euros over the next 15 years under the planned comprehensive overhaul of state-owned fleet by 2029.

 

At the same time, the government’s economic policy indicates the end of basic icebreaker procurement.

 

Controversy surrounding the suitability of the icebreaker in Baltic Sea conditions was raised about a year ago.

 

Arctia Shipping was not pleased with deal. Arctic Shipping justifies the acquisition of multipurpose ice breaker, because they come 20-30 million euros cheaper than basic icebreakers in their 30-year life span.

 

In addition, capacity utilisation rate of multipurpose icebreakers is on average 75 per cent compared to 31 per cent for basic icebreakers.

 

According to Arctia Shipping, multipurpose icebreakers are well suited for DP work, all types of offshore tasks, towing merchant vessels in harsh ice conditions or working at the service of the oil industry in ice management tasks in Arctic areas.

 

Multipurpose icebreakers can also be used in summer to assist oil and gas rigs in Arctic areas.

 

However, their use in Arctic areas has been criticised by many environmental organisations.

 

The government is now set to support the dispatch of multipurpose icebreakers to Arctic areas. “The most important is to safeguard icebreaking and winter navigation in Finnish sea areas,” as by the decided arrangement it will be carried out in a cost-effective manner and without straining the state’s budget,” said Sirpa Paatero, the minister responsible for state ownership steering.