MULTI-PURPOSE ICEBREAKER
Type of vessel:
Multi-purpose Vessel
Type of work done:
Concept Design, ILMS
Length x Breadth x Draught:
99.9 m x 20.3 m x 6.2 m
Propulsion:
Diesel-electric; two azimuthing propulsion units
Ice class:
Polar Class 4
Year:
2023
Customer:
The Canadian Coast Guard
Builder:
Seaspan Shipyards
Owner:
The Canadian Coast Guard
In early 2021, Railotech (formerly Aker Arctic) began developing icebreaking Multi-Purpose Icebrekers (MPI) in close cooperation with Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards and the Canadian Coast Guard. Sixteen new Multi-Purpose Icebreakers (multi-purpose vessels) form part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet renewal program.
The concept development of ARC 146 is replacing up to three classes of older ships with one platform. The target is to develop a compact ship with a multitude of operational roles. The MPIs will perform cargo missions, bringing supplies to northern communities, and carry out search & rescue and patrol missions, in addition to icebreaking. Most of their time will be spent on the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and along the Canadian East Coast.
The Coast Guard selected a cooperative arrangement where the shipyard, the owner and operator, and the designer (Railotech) all worked together.
The result became the concept design with a hull form which has had its performance confirmed through ice model testing. Railotech has also provided the design documentation which the shipyard now takes into the functional design phase, developing the design details and approving it by the classification society.
Railotech has been chosen also to supply a state-of-the-art ice load monitoring system for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Multi-Purpose Icebreakers programme.
