As President Donald Trump continues to insist that the US needs to own Greenland, his wider focus on the Arctic region has seen Washington order new icebreakers. For these ships, which can sail through seas covered in solid ice, the US has gone to the world expert – Finland.
Temperatures are sub-zero inside Aker Arctic Technology's ice laboratory, as the scale model of an icebreaker cruises down a 70m-long simulation tank. It ploughs a neat channel through the frozen surface of the water. Undergoing testing at a facility in Helsinki, Finland's capital, this is a design for the next generation of the country's icebreakers.
It's crucial that it has sufficient structural strength and engine power, says ice performance engineer, Riikka Matala. Mika Hovilainen, the firm's chief executive, adds that the shape of the vessel is also crucial. You have to have a hull form that breaks ice by bending it downwards, he explains.
Finland is the undisputed world leader when it comes to icebreakers. Finnish companies have designed 80% of all those currently in operation, and 60% were built at shipyards in Finland. The country leads the way out of necessity, explains Maunu Visuri, president and chief executive of Finnish state-owned company Artica, which operates a fleet of eight icebreakers.
During the coldest months, icebreakers keep Finland's ports open and work as pathfinders for big cargo ships. It's really a necessity for Finland. We say that Finland is an island.
It was this expertise that saw Trump announce in October that the US planned to order four icebreakers from Finland for the US Coast Guard, with a further seven to be built in the US using Finnish designs and expertise.
This move comes as climate change has made the Arctic Ocean more navigable for cargo ships, leading to increased commercial traffic in the region. With US concerns rising regarding aggressive military posturing from Russia and China, the acquisition of state-of-the-art icebreakers becomes essential for national security.
Back in Finland, the expertise in icebreaker technology allows for swift and efficient construction, positioning Finland as a superpower in this domain. As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, the collaboration between the US and Finland signifies a strategic approach to ensure access and maintain a balance in Arctic operations.
Temperatures are sub-zero inside Aker Arctic Technology's ice laboratory, as the scale model of an icebreaker cruises down a 70m-long simulation tank. It ploughs a neat channel through the frozen surface of the water. Undergoing testing at a facility in Helsinki, Finland's capital, this is a design for the next generation of the country's icebreakers.
It's crucial that it has sufficient structural strength and engine power, says ice performance engineer, Riikka Matala. Mika Hovilainen, the firm's chief executive, adds that the shape of the vessel is also crucial. You have to have a hull form that breaks ice by bending it downwards, he explains.
Finland is the undisputed world leader when it comes to icebreakers. Finnish companies have designed 80% of all those currently in operation, and 60% were built at shipyards in Finland. The country leads the way out of necessity, explains Maunu Visuri, president and chief executive of Finnish state-owned company Artica, which operates a fleet of eight icebreakers.
During the coldest months, icebreakers keep Finland's ports open and work as pathfinders for big cargo ships. It's really a necessity for Finland. We say that Finland is an island.
It was this expertise that saw Trump announce in October that the US planned to order four icebreakers from Finland for the US Coast Guard, with a further seven to be built in the US using Finnish designs and expertise.
This move comes as climate change has made the Arctic Ocean more navigable for cargo ships, leading to increased commercial traffic in the region. With US concerns rising regarding aggressive military posturing from Russia and China, the acquisition of state-of-the-art icebreakers becomes essential for national security.
Back in Finland, the expertise in icebreaker technology allows for swift and efficient construction, positioning Finland as a superpower in this domain. As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, the collaboration between the US and Finland signifies a strategic approach to ensure access and maintain a balance in Arctic operations.
