Great Ships of 2016: Polaris
Since it started publishing in 1939, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News has recognized excellence in ship construction. This year 18 ships in total were honored, including many “world firsts.”
Polaris - World’s First LNG-Powered Icebreaker
Builder: Arctech Helsinki Shipyard
Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd.
Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue ops. Icebreaker Polaris is a continuation of Finnish ship design and construction for work in what is arguably the most harsh of all maritime environments. Innovative design is used for the vessel’s hull form and propulsion unit arrangement, and the vessel is able to use either LNG or low sulfur diesel oil as fuel. The vessel complies with the international IMO Tier III emission standards and special requirement for Sulfur emissions in the Baltic Sea. The vessel is equipped with three Azipod propulsion units rotating 360 degrees, enabling excellent maneuverability. The icebreaking capacity of Polaris is 1.8 m at speed of 3.5 knots.
Shipybuilder: Arctech Helsinki Shipyard
Length: 110 m
Breadth: 24.4 m
Draft, design: 8 m
Speed: 17 knots
Gross tonnage: 9,300
Deadweight: 3,000 t
Crew: 16 (+8)
Classification: Lloyd’s Register
Ice class: PC4
Diesel-electric propulsion
Main engines: Wärtsilä 2x 6,000 kW, 2x 4,500 kW, 1x 1,280 kW, Dual fuel
Azimuth prop. units: ABB Azipod 2x 6,500 kW (stern), 1 x 6,000 kW (bow)
LNG tanks: 2 x 400 m3
Oil recovery capacity: 1,400 cu. m.
Towing winch: 300 m, 110 t
Bollard pull: 214 t
Icebreaking capability: 1.8 m @ 3.5 knots
(As published in the December 2016 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News)