EMEA News
Sea Trials Underway on World's First LNG-Powered Icebreaker
Arctech Helsinki Shipyard (Arctech) has announced that Polaris, a newbuild low sulfur diesel-liquefied natural gas (LNG) hybrid propulsion icebreaker - said to be the first LNG-powered icebreaker in the world - left the shipyard on April 22 for the vessel's first sea trial.
The vessel, which was built for the Finnish Transport Agency and will be delivered to Arctia Ltd (Arctia) later this year, is said to be capable of reducing both emissions and bunker costs through the use of LNG and low sulfur diesel.
"Polaris will be the most environmentally friendly icebreaker in the world," said Arctech.
The vessel is said to meet the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) Tier III emission standards, as well as requirements for operation within the Baltic Sea emissions control area (ECA).
"The vessel has been designed according to the zero emission principle, which means that no waste or polluting substance will be discharged in the sea," adds Arctech.
Following delivery later this year, the vessel, which is said to have been designed for 50 years of service life, will be employed as an icebreaker, and will also conduct oil spill response operations, emergency towing and rescue operations at open sea year-round.
In June 2014, Wärtsilä Corp. (Wärtsilä) announced that it would be supplying Polaris' dual-fuel engines.
