Finland’s LNG-fueled icebreaker bunkers in Tornio

Arctia’s LNG-fueled icebreaker Polaris completed the first LNG bunkering operation at the Tornio LNG facility. 

The vessel bunkered LNG directly from the facility located in a port that is surrounded by ice at least four months a year, Arctia said in its brief statement on social media.

Built in 2016 by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, Polaris is the most powerful icebreaker ever to fly the Finnish flag and the first icebreaker in the world to feature dual-fuel engines capable of using both low-sulfur marine diesel oil and liquefied natural gas.

Polaris was initially ordered by the Finnish Transport Agency, but the ownership was transferred to the state-owned icebreaker operator Arctia after delivery.

Equipped with three Azipod propulsion units and Wärtsilä main engines, the Polaris has an icebreaking capacity of 1.8 m at a speed of 3.5 kt.