Vyborg Shipyard and Aker Arctic join hands to develop design of two new Arctic icebreakers

Aker Arctic and Vyborg Shipyard have confirmed a contract for the design of two new icebreakers based on Aker ARC 130 A design. The icebreakers will be used in the oil terminal operated by LLC Gazprom Neft Novy Port in the Gulf of Ob, the Finnish naval architecture and marine engineering firm said.

The new icebreakers represent a further development of the Aker ARC 130 icebreaker concept originally developed for the Finnish Transport Agency. The new design, Aker ARC 130 A, will utilize similar propulsion concept consisting of three azimuth thrusters – two in the stern and one in the bow of the vessel. The propulsion power and ice strengthening have been increased according to the operational requirements of the Arctic seas. The vessel is designed to break 2-metre level ice with 30 cm snow cover in both ahead and astern directions, operate in thick consolidated brash ice, and have excellent maneuverability in all ice conditions.

The icebreakers of Aker ARC 130 A design are about 122 m long overall and have a beam of 25 m and design draft of 8m. The vessels have a diesel-electric power plant and the combined propulsion power of the three azimuth thrusters is 21.5 MW. The new icebreakers will be classified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and their ice class will be Icebreaker8.

The novel design represents the newest development of icebreaking technology that Aker Arctic has now adapted also for Arctic vessels. Vyborg Shipyard is an experienced builder of ice-class vessels and the new order will strengthen its position as the builder of demanding vessels for the Arctic conditions.

Aker Arctic Technology Inc (Aker Arctic) is an independent company that specializes in the development, design, engineering and testing services for the ice-going vessels, icebreakers and offshore marine structures and ports. Aker Arctic’s head office is located in Helsinki Finland.

Vyborg Shipyard JSC (VSY) is a corporate member of United Shipbuilding Corporation having a vast experience in construction of icebreaking and ice-going vessels, offshore support vessels of various purposes, semisubmersible drilling platforms, topside modules for fixed offshore platforms and big-size grand blocks for onshore facilities. VSY head office is located in Vyborg, Russia.