Kontio icebreaker

MS Kontio is an icebreaker owned by the Finnish state-owned company Arctia Oy and operated through its subsidiary Arctia Icebreaking Oy. Built in 1987, the vessel has a sister ship of the same design, Otso (1984). Both were constructed at Wartsila Helsinki Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland.

The vessel (IMO number 8518120) is Finland-flagged (MMSI 230251000) and registered in Helsinki.

Arctia Oy (founded in 2010 as Arctia Shipping Oy; renamed Arctia Oy in 2016) is a state-owned company that manages Finland’s icebreaker fleet. Its divisions include Arctia Icebreaking (conventional icebreakers), Arctia Offshore (multipurpose icebreakers), Arctia Karhu (port icebreaking and towing), and Arctia Management Services.

Arctia mainly serves Väylävirasto (FTIA—Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, founded in 2010, responsible for roads, railways, and waterways) during the winter months. It also provides chartered icebreaking services for private companies in the offshore oil and gas industry, as well as for research and drilling operations.

The newest Arctia-owned icebreakers are Fennica (1993), Nordica (1994), and Polaris (2016). Older vessels include Sampo (1960), Urho (1975), and Sisu (1976).

Kontio vessel details and technology

MS Kontio was ordered on December 9, 1985, at a cost of FIM 235 million. The vessel (hull/yard number 478) was launched in November 1986 and delivered to the Finnish Maritime Administration on January 29, 1987.

Unlike earlier post-war Finnish icebreakers, Kontio and Otso do not use a four-shaft propulsion system (two bow plus two aft propellers). Instead, they feature a twin-shaft arrangement with two aft thrusters and one bow thruster (fixed, in-hull, powered by electric motors).

The hull is coated with “INERTA 160,” a two-pack epoxy paint based on liquid epoxy resin. Bow plating is about 30 mm (1.2 in) thick, and the waterline area is reinforced with stainless, explosion-welded steel to reduce ice friction and resist abrasion. An active cathodic protection system safeguards the hull against corrosion by using sacrificial anodes.

Hull friction against ice is reduced by an Air Lubrication System (two compressors, 1.1 MW combined output), also known as an “air bubbling system.” It generates a layer of air bubbles along the underwater hull, resulting in fuel savings and lower CO2 emissions.

General specifications:

• Hull ice class: 1A Super (Finland), PC4 (Bureau Veritas)
• Max draft: 8 m (26 ft)
• Min draft: 7.3 m (24 ft)
• Airdraft: 37 m (121 ft)
• Waterline length: 92.3 m (303 ft)
• Displacement: 9130 tons
• DWT: 2157 tons (2000 tons summer DWT)
• Icebreaking capability: 1 m
• Bollard pull (towing capacity): 160 tons
• Ice-heeling capacity: 1250 m³
• Aft helideck: 12 m (39 ft), load capacity 2.9 tons
• Fuel storage: 2068 m³ (HFO and DO)
• Lubricating oil: 41 m³
• Freshwater: 336 m³
• Ballast water: 2390 m³
• Freshwater production: 9 tons/day
• Fuel consumption: 25 tons/day (13 knots), 21 tons/day (11 knots)
• Range: 80 days (13 knots), 98 days (11 knots)

The power plant consists of 4 × Wartsila 16V32 dual-fuel engines (5.46 MW each; total 21.84 MW), 1 × Wartsila generator (VASA 4R22/26, 560 kW), and 1 × Marelli Motori generator (M7BM400/MC8, 640 kVA). An emergency MAN diesel generator (model D2542-MLE) provides 330 kW.

All four main engines and generators are located on the Upper Deck beneath the helideck. This unusual placement improves seakeeping by raising the center of gravity and simplifies maintenance with easier crane access. Positioning the Engine Room above the waterline also allows safer midship fuel tank placement, reducing oil spill risk in case of grounding.

The diesel-electric propulsion system includes 2 × ABB (Stromberg-built) aft thrusters (7.5 MW each; total 15 MW) and 1 × ABB bow thruster (Jastram-built, 1.72 MW). Each thruster has a four-bladed stainless-steel propeller.

Navigation and safety systems include Stromberg Mete-Marine switchboards (6.3 kV, Ith 31.5 kA), two 1500 kVA transformers, multi-sensor radar, AIS, dual ECDIS, satellite communications, cable TV, GMDSS A4 radio, VoIP phones, five searchlights, and a Consilium fire alarm system (installed in 2017).

Life-saving equipment: 2 × Hatecke GSL-5.5C lifeboats (35 seats each) and 4 × Viking Life liferafts (25 seats each).

Drydocks and refurbishments

During the 2010 drydock (Turku Repair Yard, Naantali, Finland), Kontio received oil-recovery equipment:

• In November 2009, EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) signed a charter for summer 2010 and fitted the ship with oil-recovery gear (EUR 2.2 million).
• The 3-year charter (July 24, 2010–2013) was extended in April 2013 through 2016.
• In summer, the EMSA-chartered icebreaker was stationed at Helsinki’s Port Katajanokka; in winter, she operated in the Bothnian Bay, serving ports like Tornio, Kemi, Oulu, and Raahe.
• The Lamor oil-recovery system (replacing heeling and fuel tanks) has a 2033 m³ storage capacity. Upgrades included new cranes, two lifeboats, and a remote-controlled skimmer.

During the 2016 drydock, upgrades included:

• flume tank (to reduce rolling)
• hull steelworks (ice class upgraded to 1A Super/PC4)
• new lifeboats, helideck, infirmary
• new Mezzanine Deck with a recycling station

Decks and Cabins

The aft helideck supports helicopters up to 2.9 tons. The aft Cargo Deck features a Bronto-built Main Crane (5-ton capacity), an aft pilot crane (2-ton capacity), and a Rauma-Repola TW 600 H towing winch.

The ship accommodates up to 35 people (23 crew, 12 passengers/clients). Facilities include 2 messhalls (crew and client, both on Upper Deck), a laundry (Deck 2), gym (Bridge Deck 2), sauna (Deck 2), lounge (Bridge Deck 4), infirmary (Bridge Deck 2), and kiosk (Upper Deck).

The crew complement includes 1 Captain, 1 Chief Officer, 1 First Officer, 2 Second Officers, 1 Chief Engineer, 1 First Engineer, 1 Second Engineer, 1 Electrical Engineer, 1 Electrician, 1 Boatswain, 3 ABs, 1 Engine Repairman, 2 Motormen, 1 Chief Steward, 1 Cook, and 1 Catering Assistant.

Note: In areas with limited AIS coverage, tracking the vessel’s current position may not be possible. CruiseMapper’s Icebreakers hub provides a list of all icebreakers and icebreaking research ships, including itineraries and fleets by state.