---

The world's first LNG-powered icebreaker, the Polaris, was bunkered in Pori this week.

The vessel, operated by icebreaking service company Arctia Oy and owned by the Finnish Transport Agency (FTA), set off from Katajanokka, Helsinki, for icebreaking duty in the Bothnian Bay and arrived at the Skangas LNG terminal in Pori on 10th January.

During the bunker delivery, the Polaris received approximately 700 cubic metres of LNG in what was described by supplier Skangas as "a successful bunkering operation".

"The Pori terminal is located by a deep and wide fairway, so it was easy to access and we kept on schedule. At the terminal, we stocked up on food provisions and received almost 700 cubic metres of LNG fuel," said Simo Haaslahti, Arctia's chief officer on the Polaris.

"The bunkering took place safely and efficiently. It's great to see how professionals take care of bunkering. Our tanks are now full and we can head north for some serious icebreaking action," added Arctia's chief engineer on the Polaris, Juha Kannisto.

The Polaris is the first icebreaker in the world capable of running on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD). The vessel's total output of about 22 megawatts (MW) also makes it Finland's most powerful icebreaker; it has an icebreaking capacity of 1.2 meters at a speed of 6 knots.

The vessel entered into operation on 1st November 2016. Its main task is fairway icebreaking in the Baltic Sea, but it can also perform oil spill response operations, emergency towing and rescue operations.

The Polaris's inbuilt oil recovery system, supplied by Lamor, enables it to collect 1,015 cubic metres oil at a rate of 200 cubic metres per hour in harsh weather conditions.

The main particulars of the Polaris have been listed below.

Year built: 2016

Flag: Finland

Owner: Finnish Transport Agency

Length: 110 m

Breadth: 24.4 m

Draught, design: 8 m

Speed: 17 kn

Gross tonnage: 9300

Deadweight: 3000 t

Crew: 16 (+8)

Classification: Lloyd's Register

Ice class: PC4

Diesel-electric propulsion

Main engines: Wartsila 2x 6000 kW, 2x 4500 kW, 1x 1280 kW, Dual fuel

Azimuth propeller units: ABB Azipod 2x 6500 kW (stern), 1 x 6000 kW (bow)

LNG tanks: 2 x 400 m3

Oil recovery capacity: 1400 m3

Towing winch: 300 m, 110 t

Bollard pull: 214 t

Icebreaking capability 3.5 kn / 1.8 m