Pella Sietas Wins $111M Icebreaker Deal

Pella Sietas, a shipbuilding company in Neuenfelde, Hamburg, has secured a EUR100 million ($111Mln) order from Russian authorities for a new icebreaker described as the biggest ever built in Germany.

The new icebreaker, "Eisbrecher7", with a length of 120m, a width of 27.5m and a draught of 8.5m, is the largest single order in Pella Sieta's company history.  

The icebreaker is part of the Russian fleet modernization program which, as a special vessel, not only keeps sea routes clear but also provides pilot service for large ships in ice, towing ships and other floating structures. It also offers the possibility of fire fighting, sea rescue and deck cargo transport.  

The new building, ordered by JSC Pella Shipyard, is designed for use in the Arctic Ocean at temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius.

The bow is shaped in such a way that the ice is pushed downwards from the flat and curved underside of the bow, so that the icebreaker pushes itself onto the ice and breaks it under its weight. The icebreaker class "Icebreaker7" allows sailing through ice up to 2.5m thickness.

The two rudder propellers of the icebreaker are each equipped with a power of 9000 kW and the bow thrusters have power of 1000 kW each. In addition to securing the icy seaways, the power of the icebreaker also enables the towing of ships and constructions with a bollard pull of 120t.

In open waters, a service speed of 12 knots is achieved. The new building has accommodations for 35 crew members and 22 specialists. Crew and specialists can be flown in and out via a helicopter platform.  

The end user Rosmorport has one of the largest icebreaker fleets in the world with 36 icebreakers in service and will receive its new building in 2023.

Natallia Dean, Director of Pella Sietas, said: "This contract is an important milestone in the company's history. We have been working on this contract for six years, which due to its complexity is carried out in close cooperation between the customer and the shipyard. We are really proud to build this icebreaker at our shipyard for JSC Pella Shipyard and to contribute our experience in special shipbuilding with this future-proof ship as well as to create additional jobs and manufacturing capacities in Hamburg/Germany."