Arctia News

Arctia Meritaito, a subsidiary of Finland's Arctia, announced it has been awarded a contract by the Norwegian Mapping Authority to perform hydrographic seabed surveying as part of the 2024 Mareano program.Under its contract from the Norwegian Mapping Authority's Hydrographic Service (NHS), Arctia Meritaito will survey approximately 1,900 square kilometers with multibeam echosounder and sub bottom profiler in potential offshore wind area Sørvest F in the North Sea.The surveys will be conducted by the multipurpose research vessel Pohjanmeri.

Karin Orsel has been appointed the first female President ever in the history of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), starting on January 1, 2024 for a two-year term, with Mikki Koskinen joining as the new Vice-President. She succeeds Philippos Philis, who has held the position since January 2022.Commenting on her appointment, new ECSA President Karin Orsel said, “The strategic role of European shipping for the security of the Europe has come to the forefront.

Finnish companies have designed about 80 percent of the world’s icebreakers, and about 60 percent of them have been built by Finnish shipyards.Finland is home to a strong and vibrant maritime cluster, with a mix of large, medium and small shipyards, as well as a deep pool of marine engineering expertise and a broad network of vessel equipment suppliers.As one of the world’s northernmost countries, Finland is also home to a fleet of icebreakers that keep imports and exports flowing through its harbors, even during the coldest winter months.

Steerprop appointed Tom Ekegren as Arctic Segment Director. Ekegren, Master Mariner and Executive MBA, comes to Steerprop from icebreaker owner and operator Arctia Ltd. where he has held various top management roles since 2016, the most recent being the position of Global Chartering Sales and Operations Manager. He is a seasoned professional in icebreaking, Arctic, and offshore multi-purpose operations, bringing more than 25 years of experience to Steerprop’s already strong team of Arctic experts.In his new role as Arctic Segment Director…

Arctia’s icebreaker Otso is set to commence this winter's icebreaking season in Finland as the first icebreaker to depart from the Katajanokka base in Helsinki on December 3.The vessel will provide icebreaking assistance in the waters of Tornio, Kemi and Oulu in the Bay of Bothnia where it is scheduled to arrive on December 5, just in time for a forecasted spell of intense cold weather expected to accelerate ice formation in the northern Bay of Bothnia. Consequently, the icebreaking…

Icebreaking operations have commenced in Finland, with two icebreakers presently deployed in the Bay of Bothnia, where ice has begun to form at the head end and along shipping lanes.On December 25, by decision of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the icebreaker Kontio was deployed, followed by icebreaker Otso on January 8. First assistance restrictions for sea areas entered into force on December 27.“Based on long-term forecasts, we would seem to have a mild winter ahead of us…

World’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) icebreaker Polaris refueled for the first time at the Nordic countries’ largest LNG terminal in Tornio in the icy Röyttä Harbour.As of yet, LNG is the world’s most environmentally friendly ship fuel. It does not contain sulphur, and its combustion generates approximately 87% less nitrogen oxides in comparison to regularly used Marine Diesel Oil (MDO). Furthermore, LNG’s particulate matter emissions are nearly non-existent.From the outset, Polaris was designed as an icebreaker that combines efficiency with environmental friendliness.“This is the third winter in the demanding, icy conditions of the northern Baltic Sea for the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker.

Finnish state-owned company Arctia Oy said that its vessels MSV Fennica and MSV Nordica have now both received certificates of compliance with the IMO Polar Code. Both vessels now have a Polar Class 3 (PC3) class notation.According to the owner and operator of Finnish icebreaker fleet, they are among the very few in the world to have this high ice class notation.Arctia Offshore Ltd. is one of the first commercial operators to commit to stricter manning and training requirements, as well as decreasing the environmental footprint of vessels operating in polar areas, on its own initiative and in accordance with the Polar Code.The Polar Code…

The icebreaking services provider Arctia’s icebreaker Kontio departed the icebreaker base in Helsinki as the Finnish icebreaking season’s second icebreaker on Saturday 29 December 2018.The vessel headed towards its initial operation area near Oulu and Raahe, where it will begin assisting vessels. Icebreaker Otso, that departed on 25 December, already assists vessels in the Bothnian Bay.“There is already ice coverage in the northernmost part of the Bothnian Bay as well as near Oulu. So far the ice situation has been easy, but as temperatures keep dropping further below zero, more ice will form fast. Some forecasts predict a winter colder than average.

The Finnish icebreaking season officially kicked off on Tuesday evening with the first icebreaker deployment.Arctia’s converted polar icebreaker Otso departed the icebreaker base in Helsinki at 6 p.m. local time toward its initial operation area to keep open the fairways to Tornio, Kemi and Oulu. The vessel is expected to reach the area before noon on Thursday.According to the latest ice report by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, ice in the Bay of Bothnia is drifting toward northeast. In the northern Bay of Bothnia's inner archipelago there is 10-20 cm thick fast ice.

Finland is a traditional marine tech hub, with almost 90 company members in the Finnish Maritime Industries association. While the country has a storied maritime history across many sectors, based on geographic locale, it’s Arctic and ice marine technology is second to none, and it’s hoping the U.S. Coast Guard is taking notice.The Finnish maritime industry is hoping to get involved in developing the new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard polar icebreaker program. Ulla Lainio…

A cargo ship that sprung a leak in the Gulf of Finland last week has been towed into the port of Tallinn. The Finnish Boarder Guard said several meters of water had flooded into the engine room and one of the cargo compartments of a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Glory Hongkong sailing in international waters to the west of Suursaari island en route to St Petersburg. Pumping equipment was used to drain the cargo compartment, and the leak between the engine room and the cargo hold was stopped. No oil leaked from the ship into the sea at any stage.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered icebreaker Polaris has left its home base in Helsinki on Tuesday to become the third Finnish icebreaker active in this year’s icebreaking season. The nearly 110-meter-long Polaris is the world’s first LNG powered icebreaker, running on both LNG and marine diesel. The vessel will head to Tahkoluoto, Pori, to bunker LNG before joining fellow icebreakers Kontio and Otso which departed on December 18, 2017 and January 9 respectively. “The crew is very excited to begin icebreaking duty after a long summer and autumn,” said Pasi Järvelin, master of IB Polaris.

A recent seminar held March 7 and 8 in Porvoo, Finland, saw Finnish companies Arctia and Lamor Corporation present the results of the IMOR (Ice Management & Oil Recovery) project, which seeks to enhance oil recovery in ice conditions. The oil recovery seminar, arranged by icebreaking services provider Arctia in collaboration with oil spill response specialist Lamor, was opened by the company’s respective CEOs, Tero Vauraste and Fred Larsen. In his speech, Vauraste stated that oil recovery is a key part of Arctia’s range of services.

Polaris, the newest icebreaker of the Finnish icebreaking service company Arctia, set out from Katajanokka, Helsinki, for icebreaking duty in the Bothnian Bay and arrived January 10 for bunkering at the Skangas liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Pori, where the vessel received approximately 700 m3 of LNG. “Polaris arrived via Utö through the Turku Archipelago to the Skangas LNG terminal in the Tahkoluoto harbor in Pori. The Pori terminal is located by a deep and wide fairway, so it was easy to access and we kept on schedule.

Since it started publishing in 1939, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News has recognized excellence in ship construction. Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd. Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue ops.

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (www.marinelink.com), published since 1939, annually publishes details on the world’s “Great Ships of the Year.” Of the 18 selected as “Great Ships of 2016,” here we rank the Top 10 Ships of 2016, according to the editors of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. Why: Second in series of the world’s first LNG powered containerships. Shipyard: Philly Shipyard Inc. Owner  Reliance Industries Ltd. Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd.

Responding to the December 20th joint statement from the United States and Canada, regarding development of a strategy to phase out their use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) from vessels operating in the Arctic, the Clean Arctic Alliance praised both Arctic nations for their ambitious action to rid the region of the dirtiest marine fuel. “The Clean Arctic Alliance applauds the commitment of President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau to develop a concrete proposal to phase down HFO use in the Arctic”, said Clean Arctic Alliance advisor Dr Sian Prior. The US and Canada have also agreed to propose a plan for the next meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71, July 2017) in order to implement the work necessary for a phase out.

The design and technical features of Finland's newest icebreaker Polaris were presented on Monday, June 6, in Helsinki as part of the CIMAC World Congress. IB Polaris is the most environmentally friendly diesel-electric icebreaker ever built. It uses both low sulphur diesel and LNG as fuel, which significantly reduces its emissions. The special hull form and propulsion arrangement will minimize ice resistance and maximize the icebreaking capacity of the vessel. The main purpose of IB Polaris is icebreaking and assisting of other vessels in ice conditions in the Baltic Sea.

The July 2015 grounding of icebreaker Fennica near Dutch Harbor, Alaska was found to be caused by inaccuracy of nautical charts in the area, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Report of Investigation (ROI). The Finnish multipurpose icebreaker, owned by Arctia Offshore, was carrying the capping stack for Shell’s planned arctic drilling when it ran aground and suffered a gash in its hull on July 2, 2015. The event did not cause any injuries or damage to the environment. Though a marine pilot was on board the vessel at the time of the event, the sounding data of the area in use was from 1935.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, icebreaker Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency on September 28th, 2016. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue operations. Previous time an Finnish icebreaker with similar size range was completed in year 1994.

First luxury cruise sailed Northwest Passage in Aug-Sept; Voyage will be repeated next summer. A surge in Arctic tourism is bringing ever bigger cruise ships to the formerly isolated, ice-bound region, prompting calls for a clamp-down to prevent Titanic-style accidents and the pollution of fragile eco-systems. Arctic nations should consider limiting the size of vessels and ban the use of heavy fuel oil in the region, industry players said, after a first luxury cruise ship sailed safely through Canada's Northwest Passage this summer. The route, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Arctic, was once clogged with icebergs but is now ice-free in summer due to global warming.

“The Clean Arctic Alliance welcomes AECO’s reconfirmation of its support for an international ban on heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters. AECO’s decision demonstrates the growing conviction within the shipping industry that the Arctic is simply too vulnerable and too fragile to allow the use of this dirtiest of fuels, and that HFO can no longer be considered an option for powering Arctic shipping in the future”. “By acknowledging the threats posed by spills and black carbon emissions from heavy fuel oil, the Arctic cruise industry has recognised that while it expands, it must phase out of this dirty fuel in order to protect the environment and human health, and safeguard coastal communities and food security”, continued Prior.