Aker delivers arctic boxship

The arctic container vessel Norilskiy Nickel was recently delivered to MMC Norilsk Nickel in Russia by Aker Yards in Helsinki. The newbuilding is intended for service on the northern sea route and is a prototype based on the double-acting ship concept developed by Aker Yards. Norilsk Nickel has reported that its transportation strategy calls for five arctic container vessels of this type to be built.

The 14,500 dwt vessel cost $85 million and is 169 m long, 23 m wide, has a draught of 9 m and is capable of breaking 1.5 m thick ice. It will transport metallurgical products from Dudinka on the river of Yenisey to Murmansk and is able to navigate the ice-bound Arctic Ocean all year round, without the assistance of ice breakers.