NEW ON BOARD
New concepts for Polar ships to be
expected from Aker Arctic
by: MERJA KIHL AND ARI MONONEN
New Finnish icebreakers represent top-notch high technology. Many of them have
been designed especially for the demanding Polar operating conditions.
With a laboratory for ice model testing in Helsinki, Aker Arctic Technology
Inc. has a long history of the development of the technology for ships to be used
in challenging ice conditions. Some new concepts are again taking shape on the
company’s CAD screens and drawing boards.
N
ew ships designed for arctic environments are in demand ments, perhaps for transporting raw materials from Arctic ports
all over the world. to the mainland. Korean shipyards are already building new gas
”Right now, Aker Arctic Technology is engaged in the pre- tankers with icebreaking capabilities,” Mr. Suojanen notes.
liminary design for U.S. Coast Guard’s new icebreaker,” Managing ”Also, the tourist industry is finding the Arctic regions. There-
Director Reko-Antti Suojanen of Aker Arctic Technology Inc. says. fore, small-scale cruise ships that are compatible with new strict
”The new ship will be needed to replace earlier USCG ice- environmental regulations and capable of cruising in Arctic and
breakers that were built in the 1970s. What is needed is a large, Antarctic regions will probably be in demand in the near future.
powerful icebreaker with a high-grade ice class and superior ice- Aker Arctic Technology is currently developing new concepts for
breaking capabilities, complete with the latest hi-tech solutions.” such ships, designed for 200 to 400 passengers.”
”Possibly USCG will need three icebreakers of this type. They According to Mr. Suojanen, Aker Arctic Technology Inc. now
would probably be utilised both in Arctic and Antarctic conditions, employs 52 professionals. All of them are specialised in the design
e.g for making sure that the seaway to McMurdo ice station in of ships intended to be utilised in icy operating environments.
Antarctica will remain open for ship traffic.”
”One good example of Aker Arctic’s recent achievements
So far, not many details of the USCG project have been dis- is the ’Polaris’ icebreaker that was delivered in 2016. That ship
closed. It has been estimated that the length of the new icebreaker had a new hull concept and a bow propeller – making a total
might be around 140 metres. of three propellers. This proved to be a good and efficient solu-
tion, improving icebreaking capacity. Furthermore, ’Polaris’ is more
ECOLOGICAL SHIPS FOR ARCTIC REGIONS environmentally-friendly than her predecessors,” Mr. Suojanen
Norway and Russia have made plans for utilising the natural maintains. n
resources in the Arctic regions.
”This may result in the need of new ships for arctic environ-
44
seatec 2/2017
More information: www.akerarctic.fi