The Baltic icebreaking season 2016-2017 ceased on Sunday, 28th 2017, when icebreaker Otso returned from the Bay of Bothnia to the icebreaker base in Katajanokka, Helsinki. Large moving ice masses caused by the late spring generated the need for assistance until late May.
“During the season jammed brash barriers and hard ice ridges made the operative conditions of icebreaking challenging in the Bay of Bothnia. The latest assignment for IB Otso was on 24th of May off the coast of Kemi-Oulu”, says Tom Ekegren, Arctia Group’s Senior Vice President for icebreaking.
The number of operational days for Arctia fleet was altogether approximately 500 on the season 2016-2017. During this period of time the fleet and the crews executed assignments 1200 times.