LNG-fuelled Polaris icebreaker ready to enter service
Published by David Rowlands,
Editor
LNG Industry,
Arctech announced the delivery of Polaris to the Finnish Transport Agency in late September 2016. The Agency then handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy, bringing Arctia’s icebreaker fleet up to eight vessels.
Polaris is 110 m long, has a breadth of 24.4 m, and has a total output of approximately 22 MW. It complies with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III emission standards, and features three Azipod propulsion units rotating 360 degrees. It has an icebreaking capacity of 1.8 m at a speed of 3.5 kt, and was built in Helsinki by Finnish shipbuilders.
Tero Vauraste, President and CEO of Arctia Ltd, said: “Polaris represents a new generation of icebreakers. Arctia supports the proposed ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. The use of LNG and the vessel’s built-in oil recovery system are the future of cost effective multipurpose icebreakers. We are proud to be the owner of the world’s most environmentally friendly icebreaker, which will safeguard our customers’ winter transport needs in the Baltic Sea.”
Markus Karjalainen, Head of Winter Navigation Unit at the Finnish Transport Agency, added: “We are satisfied that we now have a next-generation icebreaker that is in many ways more efficient than its predecessors and environmentally friendly at the same time.”
As the year 2017 marks the 100th year of Finland’s independence, the fore bulkhead of the vessel will feature the Finland 100 logo.
Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/02112016/lng-fuelled-polaris-icebreaker-ready-to-enter-service/
You might also like
Commonwealth LNG signs 20-year SPA with Asian buyer
Commonwealth LNG has signed a sale and purchase agreement with a major Asian energy company for 1 million tpy of LNG for 20 years from Commonwealth’s facility currently under development in Louisiana.