For decades Finland has been one of the world’s leading countries for building
icebreakers and developing icebreaking technology. In 1898 Finland acquired
Europe’s first icebreaker, fitted with one bow propeller. The bow propeller gave
the icebreaker more agility and power. In those day’s icebreaking consisted primarily
of rapid charges in which the ice rose briefly on top of the ice before splitting it apart.
These vessels were steam-powered.
In 1938 Finland’s first diesel-electric icebreaker was completed, the SISU. This
was a great advance over earlier types. It was nimble and economical, and its
operational range was better that that of steam-powered icebreakers. The next
great step forward was the building of the TARMO-class in the 1950s and 1960s,
followed by the construction of the big icebreakers URHO and SISU in 1975-1976.
These were built after the decision was made to permit year round shipping to the
ports in the northern Gulf of Bothnia. The URHO and the SISU have engines rated
at 16.200 kilowatts. They have five diesel-electric engines and four screws.
The OTSO and KONTIO (15.000 Kw), built in 1986-87, were representatives of a
new generation in design. They perform more economically than the older icebreakers.
In 1993, Finland obtained its first multipurpose icebreaker, the FENNICA, followed
the next year by a sister ship, the NORDICA. They are able to perform open-sea work
in addition to breaking ice. The multipurpose icebreakers are able to negotiate ice in
the Northern Gulf of Bothnia as well as navigating in ocean waters. This revolutionary
solution derives from a special hull design and new-type propellers, fitted with nozzles,
and able to rotate 360 degrees.
The later generation of technology is the multipurpose icebreaker BOTNICA (1998),
which has an Azipod propulsion system. In this design, the electric propeller motor
is inside the propulsion pod.
The navigation equipment on Finnish icebreakers is state of the art.
MULTIPURPOSE ICEBREAKERS OPERATE ALSO IN SUMMER.
Traditionally icebreakers have been in service for a maximum of six months a year,
and not all of them are needed some years.
The Finnish Maritime Administration began in the early 1990s to seek a solution
whereby icebreakers could be used outside the icebreaking season in order to make
them more efficient and to rationalize operations. The solution developed through
Finnish engineering and shipbuilding expertise, was the multipurpose icebreaker.
The shape of the hull permits their use also in open waters beyond the Baltic Sea.
The FENNICA, the NORDICA and the BOTNICA spend the open-water season on
time charter, mainly in the North Sea. The ships, together with their Finnish crews
are employed on various jobs in the oil and gas fields. In addition to the ordinary
crew, a large complement of oil and gas specialists works on the icebreakers.
The FENNICA specializes in laying oil and gas pipes and cables in depths of up
to a kilometer or more. The NORDICA’s special fittings include a plough which
can be lowered to the sea bed for digging ditches as much as two meters deep for
pipes and cables. The BOTNICA’s works includes maintenance on oil and gas pipelines.
A specialty of the vessels is their ability to remain motionless at sea by means of
dynamic positioning. This qualifies them for the job of laying telecommunication
cables in challenging conditions.
Crew members of the Finnish icebreaker also have experience of working in the
Southern Hemisphere. The FENNICA has twice served on missions of the coast
of Brazil.
Multipurpose icebreakers stand for the international cutting edge of Finnish shipping. Some countries have followed Finland’s lead and built or are building multipurpose icebreakers for multiple applications.
Twenty three of Finland’s approximately 60 commercial ports are kept open throughout the year. During the winter months. this 23 ports are visited by over 9000 ships carrying more that 27 million tons of cargo. The ships are assisted by nine icebreakers operated by the Finnish Maritime Administration, which generate some 120 megawatts of thrust – enough to keep seaborne transport running in the teeth of the bitterest winter.
During a normal winter, icebreakers are in operation for a combined total of roughly 1.000 days, covering an aggregate distance of some 140.000 miles. They also tow ships a distance of about 20.000 miles for a total of 2.300 hours. Normally, the operational season for icebreaking extends from mid-November until the end of May.
Because icebreakers keep them open, the European Union has classified Finland’s sea-lanes as part of its trans-European transport network. The freezing of the Baltic Sea used to cause the closure of Finland’s ports during the winter. In the days of sail, this was an annual fact of life that had to be accepted. Then came the steam power, marking the beginning of the end of Finland’s hibernal isolation. The purchase in 1890 of Finland’s first icebreaker named MURTAJA (breaker) opened a new chapter in the country’s confrontation with winter ice.
Source: Finland Post; Finnish Maritime Administration. Copied from Watercraft Philately Vol. 52 page 47.
Built as an icebreaker under yard No 472 by the Wärtsila Ab, Helsinki yard, Finland for the Finnish Maritime Administration, Helsinki.
Launched under the name OTSO one sister the KONTIO.
Tonnage 7.066 gross, 2.120 net, 2.000 dwt, dim. 99.01 x 24.46 x 8m. (draught).
Powered by four Wärtsila 16-cyl Vee Oil 4 SA engines, 29.688 bhp, open water speed 18.5 knots.
1986 Delivered to owners.
She was designed to provide efficient assistance to the today’s larger vessels. The forward propellers common in recent Baltic icebreakers has been replaced by Wärtsila’s patent air bubbling system and this with the absence of forward propeller bosses, decreased the resistance encountered by the vessel in ice and that resistance has also been reduced by modifications of the hull shape, and the use of compound plate with a surface layer of stainless steel in the ice zone. These features, together with the applications of epoxy paint to the underwater surfaces will keep frictional resistance low for longer periods than hitherto achieved by previous methods.
Also she is fitted out with a helicopter deck, under which on the upper deck the four Wärtsila diesel engines are placed.
Accommodation for 28 crew members in separate cabins, with separate messes and day rooms for officers, crew and also catering staff.
For recreation there are two saunas and a gymnasium.
http://www.equasis.org gives for 2006: IMO No. 8405880 owned and managed by Finstaship Shipping Enterprise, Helsinki.
Source: Marine News 1986/210.