Elomatic and tkMS partner on ice-breaker

The Polarstern will be constructed at tkMS’s large shipyard in Wismar, an award-winning yard known for its track record in building complex icebreaking ships, including more than 120 vessels for polar regions.

“With the new Polarstern contract, we apply our maritime expertise also to the civilian sector, and prove that we can offer technological excellence at internationally competitive terms,” said Oliver Burkhard, chief executive of tkMS.

“We are not only setting shipbuilding standards but also making an active contribution to international research in the fight against climate change.”

Elomatic, a global consulting and engineering firm, will handle both basic and detailed engineering work, in addition to providing yard consultancy throughout the ship’s construction.

The collaboration builds on a two-year partnership between tkMS and Elomatic, which culminated in tkMS being awarded the public tender in December 2024 by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany.

“The new Polarstern project represents a significant moment for Elomatic, as the largest single ship design contract in the company’s 55-year history,” said Guido Schulte, managing director at Elomatic Maritime Technologies.

The Polarstern is set to be the world’s largest and most advanced icebreaking research vessel, equipped with onboard laboratories and a green propulsion system that combines green fuels with a large battery system.

Capable of breaking through 1.80-metre-thick ice, the vessel is scheduled to replace the current Polarstern in 2030.