Arctech begins build of rescue vessel

The completed hull of the vessel will be shipped to Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for outfitting and finishing in spring 2013. The finished vessel is scheduled for delivery in December 2013.The vessel is 76.4 m length oa and 20.5m breadth. The three main generator sets for the diesel electric power plant will have a total power of 9MW; the total propulsion power is about 7 MW.

The vessel will be used in the Gulf of Finland in icebreaking operations, towing of vessels and floating facilities and oil spill recovery. One of the special design features is that it can move sideways, featuring a patented oblique design with asymmetric hull and three azimuthing propulsors, which allow the vessel to operate efficiently ahead, astern and obliquely (sideways). The vessel can proceed on a continuous mode in 1.0 m thick level ice both ahead and astern, and in oblique mode she will be able to generate a 50m wide channel in 0.6 m thick ice. The design is based on the ARC 100 concept, which has been developed by Aker Arctic Technology for Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

The ship features what is described by the yard as “a completely new type of oil spill combat technology”, suitable for oil recovery operations in heavy seas.

“There is a demand for innovative icebreaking vessels in the Russian market. The rescue vessel represents a totally new technology, which enables its versatile use in the Gulf of Finland”, comments managing director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, Esko Mustamäki.