Wärtsilä to power flagship Polar Icebreaker

The 158m multi-mission Polar Icebreaker will operate under PC2 conditions with four 16-cylinder and two 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 31 engines, delivering 47 MW of power.

The engines will be fitted with selective catalytic reduction systems for IMO Tier III environmental compliance. Wärtsilä will also supply the centre shaft line with a stainless-steel ice-class propeller, as well as Wärtsilä’s NACOS Platinum navigation system.

“Wärtsilä has a fine track record and years of experience in delivering high-class marine technologies including recently delivering the propulsion equipment for the offshore fisheries science vessels, plus the diesel generator sets for the offshore oceanographic science vessel built at Seaspan for the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Leo Martin, senior vice president – Programs, Seaspan Shipyards.

The Wärtsilä 31 engine has reportedly been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. “The fuel efficiency of the Wärtsilä 31 engine was a determining factor in the award of this prestigious contract,” said Simon Riddle, general manager, Naval Sales – Wärtsilä.

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to be delivered to the yard in 2025. When built, the new vessel will be the Canadian Coast Guard’s largest icebreaker and will replace ‘CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent’, which is due to retire at the end of the decade after 60 years of service.