Finland: World’s first LNG-fueled icebreaker starts service

Arctia’s LNG-fueled icebreaker Polaris entered service on Monday, January 9, joining icebreakers Otso and Kontio that have been in service since early December 2016. 

Polaris is the first icebreaker in the world capable of running on both LNG and ultra-low-sulphur diesel, Arctia said in its statement, and with a total output of about 22 MW also makes it Finland’s most powerful icebreaker.

Polaris is the eighth icebreaker in Arctia’s current fleet. It is designed to remain in service for at least 50 years in icebreaking.

The vessel has ice-strengthened propulsion units and oil recovery system integrated into the hull, and will be used for oil recovery and sea rescue operations.

Master of Polaris Pasi Järvelin said, “We just bunkered 1,000 cubic meters of low-sulphur diesel here in Katajanokka, Helsinki. We now head on to Pori, where more food provisions and 700 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas will be taken aboard.”

Icebreaker Polaris is co-financed by the European Union’s TEN-T programme.