ABB announced today the winning of a $35 million order from the Baltic Shipyard Ltd to supply Azipod propulsion and associated distribution systems for a new 25 megawatt (MW) diesel-electric icebreaker under construction for Russia’s state shipping company Rosmorport FSUE.
Designed to operate on the Northern Sea Route, the Arctic seas, and estuaries of rivers discharging into the Arctic Ocean, this new icebreaker is able to proceed continuously both ahead and astern at the speed of 2 knots in compact ice field up to 2m thick with 20 cm of snow cover and temperatures as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius.
The delivery schedule is due to start in 2013 and the vessel will be delivered to Rosmorport in 2015.
“The extreme conditions north of the Arctic Circle demand constant availability and high-energy efficiency from all systems on board,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “ABB’s solutions will ensure the reliability and maneuverability required for this type of ship’s operation. This agreement represents a very significant milestone for us, underlining our excellent reputation in the Russian market as a long-term, reliable partner and reinforcing our global leadership in supplying propulsion for icebreaking vessels.
ABB will provide integrated power generation and distribution systems, thruster motors, fire-fighting pump motors as well as 25 MW propulsion systems. The propulsion system of the vessel features two Azipod® thruster units (power output 2 x 7,5 MW) and one centerline arranged shafting with a fixed pitch propeller generating additional 10MW output. All Azipod® propulsion units for this project are specifically designed for extreme Arctic ice class RMRS Icebreaker-8.
The order was booked in the third quarter of 2012.
Canada is committing more than C$11 billion ($7.95 billion) to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard, the country’s biggest shipbuilding contract in Quebec’s history, as Arctic nations race to replace aging fleets and expand their ability to operate in increasingly strategic northern waters.
Finland’s multipurpose icebreaker Nordica has departed for Canada, where it will provide icebreaking and ice-management services to the Canadian Coast Guard in the Arctic later this year, marking a new step in Finland’s expanding role in the North American icebreaking sector.
Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard has won a contract to build Finland’s newest icebreaker, adding another vessel to a rapidly expanding order book for the Canadian shipbuilder’s Finnish operations as governments on both sides of the Atlantic seek to renew aging icebreaker fleets.
August 19, 2026
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