Finland has completed the concept design for a new icebreaker to replace the 70-year-old Voima, under a project commissioned by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. The next step is to invite tenders from shipyards, with construction scheduled to start in 2027 and the vessel due to be ready in September 2029.
In the final phase of concept work, the focus was on selecting the propulsion solution. The propulsion arrangement was assessed as a complete system, targeting reliable performance, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to operate in both ice and open water in the Bothnian Sea and the Gulf of Finland, now and in the future.
The new icebreaker is planned to be about 96 m long with 10.5 MW of engine power, matching Voima’s power. It will be 24 m wide, compared with Voima’s 19 m, and is designed with a modern hull and propulsion solution. The increased beam is expected to improve performance in open water and in icy conditions.
The vessel is designed for improved seaworthiness in open water, which is expected to be encountered more frequently in the coming decades due to climate change. The target service life is more than 50 years, with future ice winters expected to remain challenging as wind presses ice masses together and ice field conditions vary.
The icebreaker is classified as B+ and is intended to be among the first to start operating in the Bothnian Bay, moving to the Bothnian Sea and the Gulf of Finland in harsher winters if needed. The build forms part of the WINMOS IV project, which has received €42m in CEF funding.
Helena Orädd, head of the maritime transport unit, said the agency has maintained a clear understanding of the requirements for the icebreaker needed to replace Voima.
