Iranian Ship Linked to Houthi Attacks Heads Home Amid Tensions
(Bloomberg) — An Iranian ship that’s been linked to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea is returning home, removing a prominent asset in the area as the Islamic Republic braces...
At first glance, very little about this new icebreaker looks right. The port side shares almost nothing in common with the starboard side and even the bridge doesn’t appear to be facing the right direction.
This was a very deliberate design consideration by the naval architects at Aker Arctic however, one that gives the ARC100 some very unique abilities while operating in first-year arctic ice.
Every other icebreaker in the world accomplishes its job while moving forward or astern, except for the ARC100. This new icebreaker is able to operate as an icebreaker in any direction, and as the diagram below shows, use this to its advantage by increasing its virtual beam to create channels in the ice for ships with wider beams.
At the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas this week, Aker Arctic announced they have followed up their ARC 100 design (which is currently under construction at OJSC Yantar and Helsinki’s Arctech yards) with an “HD” version that is 22 meters longer and with 2.5 times the bollard pull.
UPDATE: First ARC100 Launched at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard
The ARC100HD has also been through a plethora of model tests at Aker Arctic’s facility in Helsinki, Finland which have demonstrated the vessel’s ability to break through 1.5m thick ice when moving ahead and astern at 5 knots (2 knots through 2m thick ice). In the oblique mode, the vessel will be able to cut a 50m wide channel through 1.5m thick ice.
The target areas of operation include:
In addition to oil response, this vessel will also be outfitted with features that provide advanced oil response capabilities in an arctic environment. As the image below shows, the vessel deploys a boom arm and uses the full length of the hull to funnel oil to the on board collector tanks for oil separation. This system allows oil recovery in heavy seas.
Mikko Niini, Managing Director of Aker Arctic Technology commented on this new vessel:
“This project is a significant milestone for icebreaker expertise, as it shows the way design and construction efforts are keeping pace with continuing demand for harder to recover energy sources”, says
“With the awarding of drilling permits in the Arctic subject to increasing scrutiny, this is another example of Aker Arctic Technology’s commitment to meeting the challenges set by nature.”
Vessel Particulars:
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