U.S. Icebreaker Build Plan Moves Forward at Warp Speed
. Bollinger will construct up to four cutters in the U.S; the first U.S.-built vessel is expected in 2029.Seaspan’s MPI design ... originally designed for the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) long-range, multi-mission operations in extreme Arctic conditions ... was developed in partnership with Aker Arctic Technology Inc. of Finland (Aker) and under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), is ready for production enabling construction on the ASC program to begin immediately. Image courtesy SeaspanDesign and engineering of the MPI was completed almost entirely in Canada.
Icebreaker Construction: Seaspan, Bollinger, Rauma and Aker Arctic Team to Build USCG Icebreakers
In a major move to accelerate the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking fleet expansion, Bollinger Shipyards, Rauma Shipyards, Seaspan Shipyards, and Aker Arctic announced a partnership to deliver next-generation Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) under the Coast Guard’s multibillion-dollar icebreaker program.The collaboration combines U.S., Canadian, and Finnish shipbuilding expertise to meet the Coast Guard’s urgent Arctic mission requirements. Backed by nearly $9 billion in funding secured under President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”, the effort aims to deliver
Evaluating Ice Loads on Windmill Monopiles
As part of Aker Arctic’s own research and development work, a series of ice model tests were conducted in November 2023 to investigate the ice loads affecting windmill monopiles. Offshore windmills require robust foundations to withstand the harsh marine environment, including ice and waves. Similar to the planning of icebreakers or other ice-strengthened vessels, the testing of offshore structures with scaled models is a cost-efficient method to verify design adequacy before construction begins, ensuring suitability for the intended operational area. Crushing strength is
China's Polar Icebreaker Embarks on First Arctic Mission
and new pollutants, to improve the nation's scientific understanding of climate change in the Arctic.Delivered from the Jiangnan Shipyard in July 2019, the icebreaking research vessel commenced operations in October, completing its first Antarctica expedition in April.Designed by Finnish firm Aker Arctic, the Polar Class 3 Xue Long 2 measures 122.5 meters long, with a beam of 22.3 meters, 8.3 meters draft at full load and displacement of 14,300 metric tons.The ship's diesel-electric propulsion system includes two 16-cylinder and two 12-cylinder engines, both Wärtsilä 32-series designs
Research Vessels: The Fleet is In
on China’s new state-of-the-art polar research ship is underway at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China, with delivery scheduled for 2019. In 2012, the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) awarded a contract for the concept and basic design of the research icebreaker to Aker Arctic, who tailored the design for specific scientific missions in the Arctic and Antarctic. After the concept had been developed, Aker Arctic performed model tests in open water and ice at its Helsinki laboratory in order to verify the vessel’s performance. The new vessel will
Aker Arctic’s Ice Lab is Back in Acton
The Finnish icebreaking season typically ends in May. Around the same time, the cooling system in Aker Arctic’s ice laboratory in Helsinki, Finland, is turned off and the model basin is allowed to warm up for the annual summer maintenance break. Aker Arctic operates its own ice model testing facility at the company’s main office in Helsinki, Finland. Using the in-house developed FGX model ice, the 75-meter ice tank can be used to get reliable icebreaking performance predictions for ice-going ships and study other ice-related phenomena in model scale. Aker Arctic and its
China’s New Polar Research Vessel under Construction
Construction on China’s new state-of-the-art polar research ship is underway at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China, with delivery scheduled for 2019. In 2012, the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) awarded a contract for the concept and basic design of the research icebreaker to Aker Arctic, who tailored the design for specific scientific missions in the Arctic and Antarctic. After the concept had been developed, Aker Arctic performed model tests in open water and ice at its Helsinki laboratory in order to verify the vessel’s performance. The basic design is now in
MacGregor to Equip China’s New Polar Research Ship
The Polar Research Institute of China has ordered a new 14,300gt polar research vessel. Designed by Aker Arctic Finland, it will be the first vessel of its type to be built in China, though a shipyard has yet to be named. The 122.5-meter multifunctional icebreaker will be able to handle ice up to 1.5 meters thick, achieving a continuous icebreaking speed of two to three knots. It will have an endurance of 20,000 nautical miles and with a full 90-person crew, it will be able to cruise for 60 days without resupply. MacGregor, part of Cargotec, said it has won an order to supply MacGregor
Arctic Energy Exploration Efforts Heat Up
transits across the top of the word may not be large, there are a growing number of vessels operating in the ice. “Major oil companies continue to make major commitments to oil and gas exploration operations in the Arctic region,” said Mikko Niini, until recently the managing director at Aker Arctic in Helsinki, and now a senior management advisor. “We’re developing more independent cargo vessel solutions,” said Niini. Some of Aker Arctic’s more unusual designs include the double-acting ship (DAS) and the oblique icebreaker. The first DAS, Finnish tanker
December 2025
