Norwegian icebreaker with some… Polish input launched in Italy!

Kronprins Haakon on a slipway at Fincantieri. Photo: Øystein Mikelborg / Norsk Polarinstitutt — *Kronprins Haakon* on a slipway at Fincantieri. Photo: Øystein Mikelborg / Norsk Polarinstitutt

The Kronprins Haakon oceanographic icebreaker which Fincantieri is building for the Norwegian government, has been launched at the shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia) – Fincantieri reported on 28 February. Further fittings will continue leading the vessel to its delivery, scheduled by the end of 2017.

The Norwegian Polar Institute will be the ship owner of the icebreaker for the Norwegian Government, while the vessel, taking its name from the heir to the Norwegian throne, will be used by the same Institute and by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), the Norwegian governmental body for oceanographic research and fishing, and by the University of Tromsø.

The launching ceremony was attended, among others, by Jan Gunnar Winther, Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, by Sissel Rogne, Director of the Institute for Marine Research, by Anne Husebekk, Rector of the University of Tromsø and by Angelo Fusco, Senior Vice President Naval Vessels Business Unit & Italy Business Unit of Fincantieri.

A computer rendering of the Kronprins Haakon icebreaker. Fig.: Rolls Royce Marine — A computer rendering of the *Kronprins Haakon* icebreaker. Fig.: Rolls Royce Marine

Kronprins Haakon will operate in the polar waters and will be one of the most advanced icebreakers in the world, providing a high-tech facility for the study of the marine environment. With a gross tonnage of about 9,000 tons, 100 meters long and 21 meters wide, the vessel will be able to accommodate 55 people in 38 cabins – research personnel, students and crew – and will be fitted out with the highest standards of comfort for passenger ships.

Its hangar at the bow will have two helicopters and the unit will be equipped with complex instrumentation able to investigate the morphology and geology of the seabed.

Rolls-Royce Marine made the functional design of the ship. Kronprins Haakon will have a cruise speed of 15 knots and will be able to move on independently through ice thick up to one meter and with particular silence requirements to avoid disturbing the sea environment.

The ship was in fact built according to criteria ensuring minimum environmental impact and reduced radiation of noise underwater, so as to allow studies on fish and marine mammals. She will be able to carry out its oceanographic and hydrographic research activities in any area of operation.

Last but not least… some Polish input is also worth mentioning. The ship’s navigation system has been designed and will be commissioned by Polish naval architects and engineers from Kongsberg Maritime Poland Ltd., located in Szczecin, the Polish branch of the renowned Norwegian company. The same team has also launched the navigation and DP systems on-board three vessels built at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk, Poland namely the Siem Pride and Siem Thiima LNG powered platform supply vessels and the Siem Aimery cable layer, all delivered to Siem Offshore in the years 2015-2016.

GL, rel (Fincantieri)