In January 2016 , Polaris was floated out from the covered dry dock for the first time . The first sea trials for the ship were arranged on 22 April , 2016 .
TOWING DUTIES AND OIL SPILL RESPONSE WORK
The contract to build icebreaker Polaris was signed in February 2014 . Shipbuilding work at Arctech Helsinki shipyard in Hietalahti was started in the autumn of 2014 .
In January 2016 , Polaris was floated out from the covered dry dock for the first time . The first sea trials for the ship were arranged on 22 April , 2016 .
In Autumn 2016 , Mr . Esko Mustamäki – the CEO for Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Oy – noted that the icebreaker Polaris was already being finalised .
” The concept for the vessel was outlined by the Finnish Transport Agency who ordered the ship . Polaris will operate as
“
It is a so-called multipurpose vessel .
an icebreaker in the Baltic Sea region and will also be the most efficient vessel of the Finnish icebreaker fleet ,” Mustamäki says .
More detailed blueprints for the ship were drafted by Aker Arctic Technology Oy together with the Turku-based engineering office ILS Oy .
” Arctech then engaged in further design work and ensured that carrying out the shipbuilding process for such a vessel was possible .”
Mustamäki emphasises that while the ship is essentially intended to be used as an icebreaker , it is a so-called multipurpose vessel .
” The ship can also be utilised as a rescue vessel , a tug , and an oil spill response ship in open-sea conditions . When a ship is built for official duty , it is generally fitted for oil spill response operations .”
For oil destruction , the ship ’ s equipment includes brush skimmers and a side-
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