LNG-powered icebreaker Polaris - Full-scale ice trials of the Aker ARC 130 design

Polaris is the world’s first icebreaker powered by a dual-fuel power plant capable of using both low-sulphur marine diesel oil (LSMDO) as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG). The 19-megawatt (25,000 shp) icebreaker, the most powerful ever to fly the Finnish flag, is designed for demanding escort icebreaking operations in the Northern Baltic Sea: she can break up to 1.8 m (6 ft) thick level ice at a speed of more than 3.5 knots and maintain high average speed during escort operations. Her propulsion system - two Azipod propulsion units in the stern and a third 6-megawatt unit in the bow - gives the 10,000-ton vessel exceptional maneuverability in ice. While designed primarily as an icebreaker, Polaris is also fitted with a built-in recovery system for spilled oil. The innovative, efficient and environmentally-friendly Polaris is a perfect example of Finnish icebreaking know-how spanning from design to construction and operation. The development of the revolutionary LNG-powered icebreake