Norwegian LNG energy solutions company Skangas has made the first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker. Polaris is a dual-fuel icebreaker using LNG as the primary fuel and diesel as a reserve fuel. Using LNG results in considerable reductions in the vessel’s particulate, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.
The icebreaker was bunkered from two LNG road tankers at Helsinki’s Vuosaari Harbour on June 18–19, 2016 before her first sea trial on LNG.
“Polaris will provide a major increase in security for Finland’s winter navigation – with an added bonus of being powered with environmentally friendly LNG. We’re determined to ensure the efficient and reliable year-round operability of shipping for Finland’s businesses,” says Jarkko Toivola, Head of Winter Navigation Unit at the Finnish Transport Agency.
“Polaris represents a new generation of Baltic Sea icebreakers. The special hull design and propulsion arrangement coupled with high power ensure the best icebreaking capacity in the Baltic Sea as well as excellent manoeuvrability,” says Esko Mustamäki, Managing Director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, builder of Polaris.
“This is the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker. LNG is excellently suited for use as a marine fuel as it’s a great alternative to oil, and being environmentally friendly is one of its strengths. Once Finland’s first LNG terminal is opened in August, the vessel can also be bunkered directly from the terminal, or bunkering can take place from road tankers at ports around the country,” says Skangas Sales and Marketing Director Tommy Mattila.
As an environmentally friendly shipping fuel LNG meets the requirements set by the EU Sulphur Directive 2012/33/EU for shipping as well as the stricter emission limits of the future.
In 2015 Skangas supplied a total of 376 700 tonnes (5.2 TWh) of LNG in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Skangas has a LNG production plant and terminal in Risavika, Norway, LNG terminals in Øra, Norway and Lysekil, Sweden, and the Skangas terminal in Pori, Finland will be opened in August 2016. Progress in the construction of the Tornio Manga LNG joint project is being made as planned, and the terminal will be completed in Tornio, Finland, in 2018.
(Source: Skangas)
