Arctia says its icebreakers assisted navigation in the Baltic Sea for a total of 385 icebreaking days in 2016. The Arctia Group’s turnover and profit remained at a good level. Training days for personnel totalled 1,395 during the year. The Group made a significant investment by acquiring the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker Polaris to its fleet.
The ice winter of 2015–2016 was very mild as was the previous winter, but the icebreakers were kept busy especially in the challenging conditions of the Bay of Bothnia. During the season, merchant vessels were assisted by IB Otso, IB Kontio, IB Sisu and MSV Nordica in the Bay of Bothnia and by IB Voima in the Gulf of Finland. During 2016, icebreaking days (one icebreaker in icebreaking duty for one day) in the Baltic Sea totalled 385 (175 in the previous year) and the number of operating days in offshore duties was 61 (380).
The most significant accomplishment by Arctia in terms of corporate social responsibility in 2016 was the acquisition and commissioning of icebreaker Polaris. As one of the first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) operators in the Baltic Sea, Arctia is establishing practical use of this eco-efficient fuel technology.
Icebreaker Voima spent the latter part of the summer 2016 in dry dock where it underwent a major life span extension. For example, its bottom was fitted with about 250 tonnes of new sheet metal and the navigation equipment on the bridge was replaced. The lifetime of the vessel was increased by ten years with the life span extension. The modernisation of IB Voima was part of the WINMOS II project, and it was partly funded by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport. IB Voima is the world’s oldest icebreaker still in active icebreaking operation.
In April 2016, Arctia Karhu Ltd expanded its operations to the entire Bothnian Arc when it signed a contract on escort tug services with the Port of Luleå. The development project on oil prevention and response was continued with harbour icebreaker Ahto, which is owned by Arctia Karhu Ltd. The objective of the IMOR (Ice Management & Oil Recovery) project is to improve oil recovery in icy conditions.
Arctia’s turnover in 2016 amounted to EUR 60.7 million (EUR 64.4 in the previous year). Operating profit stood at EUR 12.9 million (EUR 18.1 million) and the result of the financial year was EUR 9.1 million (EUR 14.6 million). At the end of the year, the company had a total of 265 employees (273), 233 of whom were members of the sea personnel (237).