Arctech Helsinki Shipyard has announced that the Polaris has commenced its first sea trial. The Polaris is a new, Finnish, LNG-powered icebreaker.
Its main purpose is icebreaking and to assist other vessels in ice conditions. However, it will also be used in emergency rescue and towing operations in demanding conditions all year round.
The vessel has been designed to have a service life of 50 years, and will utilise low sulfur diesel and LNG as fuel. This will decrease its emissions and operation costs, and, according to Arctech, make it the world’s most environmentally friendly icebreaker.
Edited from press release by David Rowlands