The Estonian Maritime Administration has awarded a contract to Aker Arctic Technology Inc, Helsinki, Finland, for designing a new multipurpose icebreaker.

"Aker Yards has built more than 60 percent of the icebreakers in the world. This design contract demonstrates that Aker Yards maintains its historical position as the leading designer of icebreakers in the world." says Executive Vice President Projects and Technology Mr Oddvar Slettevold in a comment.

The technical solution proposed by Aker Arctic represents the latest development in modern icebreaker technology. “The new generation multipurpose icebreaker for Estonia with a total length of 108 metres and a breadth of 28 metres will be able to break 1.2 m thick level ice forward and astern at a continuous speed of 3 knots, as well as move smoothly through heavy ice ridges due to her novel stern design. The vessel's twin azimuthing drives will have a total shaft power of 17 MW”. The vessel will be fitted with the equipment needed for oil combating, fire fighting and towing and, in order to perform multiple service tasks in ice-free periods, offshore equipment will also be installed.

The public procurement for building the vessel will be announced in May 2008, and the final costs as well as the deadline for completing the construction works will be known in autumn 2008, after receiving bids from invited shipyards. It is expected that the new multipurpose vessel would enter service in the 2010/2011 icebreaking season. According to Mr Andrus Maide, Director General of the Maritime Administration, this is the “first big step towards implementing the national icebreaking development plan for Estonia”.