Arctech Helsinki Shipyard's multi-purpose emergency and rescue response vessel 'Baltika', touted as the "world's first oblique icebreaker", has completed sea trials and will soon be delivered to its owner, the Russian Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport.
Once delivered, the FGI Gosmorspassluzhba (Russian Marine Emergency Rescue Service) will operate the vessel. The 'Baltika' will be used in icebreaking, rescue and oil response operations in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel measures 76.4 metres in length and 20.5 metres in breadth, with a total propulsion output of 7.5MW via three diesel generator sets.
Based on Aker Arctic's ARC 100 design concept and the result of several years of development, the vessel features an asymmetric hull, a built-in oil recovery system, and three 360-degree-rotating propulsors, which allow the vessel to operate efficiently in sideways, astern and ahead configurations.
In "oblique mode", the vessel will be able to generate a 50-metre-wide channel in 0.6-metre-thick ice. According to Arctech, the 'Baltika' is the first icebreaker that can break an ice channel that is twice that of her breadth, thus increasing the cost-effectiveness of the vessel during operation.
The vessel's advanced oil recovery system is also suitable for operation in heavy waves when oil recovery is very challenging, said Arctech.
"The 'Baltika' has been on the sea trials and the functionality of the vessel has been assured regarding manoeuvrability, sideways icebreaking mode and the new type of oil recovery system," commented Arctech managing director Esko Mustamäki.