As geopolitical competition in the northern polar region accelerates, climate change is inevitably affecting the Arctic. Sailors from Finnish icebreaker shipping company Arctia Ltd know the weakening of ice does not reduce the need for icebreakers but on the contrary, increases it.
Over the next ten years, the United States together with its allied countries will need between 70 and 90 icebreakers. Both the United States and Canada are currently looking for suitable partners and shipyards for the building of icebreakers.
Picture below: Polaris is a Finnish icebreaker built in 2016 by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. Polaris is operated by icebreaker shippin company Arctia.
The United States, Canada and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding to formalise the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact on 11 July 2024. This initiative launched co-operation for the development of world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers.
Finland has decades of experience – indeed, up to a century – in building icebreakers. Approximately 80% of the world’s icebreakers are designed in Finland, and 60% are built there.
- Finnish icebreaker expertise is among the best in the world, says Mikko Ervast, chief shop steward at Arctia Ltd.
- We stick to agreements and follow schedules; we keep to what has been agreed.
Finns know it is important to stick to schedules when building new icebreakers.
- Money is not always the determining factor but rather, the schedules: getting the job done on time as agreed, explains Ervast.
- New icebreakers must be strong and of the highest quality, and they must work well in ice conditions. In Finland, we know how to build such icebreakers.
Several Finnish companies are specialised in shipbuilding and, in particular, icebreaker design. The key players are Aker Arctic Technology Inc and Wärtsilä Corporation along with their subcontractors. Finland is a country of engineers. We are constantly developing technology that will work reliably and efficiently in winter conditions.
Finland has shipyards that know how to build not only ships but high-quality icebreakers as well. A Canadian company bought the shipyard of Finland's capital Helsinki; so, Finns are ready with welding torches in hand to get to work building new icebreakers. Things are also in top form at the Rauma shipyard located on the west coast of Finland.
Many Finnish cities like Pori, Uusikaupunki and Naantali have shipyards and the capacity to set up a specialised shipyard for icebreaker building if necessary. These cities can work together; and since Finnish engineers, shipbuilders and sailors know each other, the Finnish maritime clusters can team up and build up to dozens of icebreakers on time as agreed.
- In the United States and Canada, there are many old fleets of icebreakers and urgency to replace old vessels with new ones. Now is the time for Americans and Canadians to be proactive and swift towards Finland so that we can put our network and country to work and start building them some new icebreakers, declares Ervast, messaging Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. and America's President-elect Donald Trump (set to take office on 20 January 2025).
