This year the Arctic Circle Assembly will be joined by truly concrete Arctic expertise as the Finnish multipurpose icebreaker MSV Nordica moors Miðbakki berth, just a stone’s throw from Harpa Conference Center. According to Arctia Ltd., this vessel has served in fairway icebreaking, ice management and various maritime service tasks all over the Arctic. It currently holds the record for both the earliest and the latest season transit of the Northwest Passage. This July it traversed the Northwest Passage for the second time, carrying on board researchers.
The vessel owner Arctia Offshore Ltd. decided to send MSV Nordica to this year’s Arctic Circle Assembly in celebration of the centenary of Finland’s independence and chairmanship in the Arctic Council. Arctia’s President and CEO Mr. Tero Vauraste also currently chairs the Arctic Economic Council.
“We want to showcase Finnish Arctic expertise in Iceland during the world’s largest annual international gathering on the Arctic. By reaching out especially to leaders of those nations and organizations in need of icebreaking services, we wish to discuss the idea of sharing icebreakers and jointly using all icebreakers around the world for common good”, explains Mr. Eero Hokkanen, Communications Manager at Arctia.
Organizations planning meetings during the Arctic Circle Assembly can hire space on board MSV Nordica for their events. The vessel has a mess hall for a maximum of 40 persons and a day room for more exclusive events of a maximum of 20 persons. These unique venues are available for booking through the Arctic Circle Assembly room reservation system. Availability is restricted to certain times coinciding with the Arctic Circle Assembly morning and afternoon Breakout Sessions, and to terms assigned by the vessel owner.
The vessel will be open to the general public through a restricted tour on board on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (October 13-15) from 10:00 until 14:00. The tour includes steep staircases and is not suitable for small children or the physically challenged.
Sending the icebreaker to Iceland is Arctia’s gift to a hundred-year-old Finland. It is part of the programme for the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017.