Sweden has signed a contract with a South Korean shipyard to build a new icebreaker, according to multiple reports. The vessel is expected to be delivered in 2029 and will be larger and more efficient than the country's current fleet. Four bids were submitted for the contract, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries submitting the most advantageous bid.
The new icebreaker will be larger than Sweden's current icebreakers, capable of breaking a channel up to 32 meters wide compared to today's 24 meters. It will also reduce energy consumption by 40 percent, according to reports. The vessel's design aims to improve efficiency and capability for Sweden's maritime operations.
Nine out of 10 goods exported from and imported to Sweden are transported by sea. Sweden's basic industries depend on shipping working year-round.
Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson said the government will soon announce an injection of 4.1 billion kronor ($444 million) to pay for the new icebreaker. No price was announced for the vessel itself, leaving the total cost unclear.
Sweden currently has six icebreakers, with the largest ones built in the 1970s and 1980s and nearing the end of their lifespans. The country plans to gradually replace its ageing icebreakers with new ones, but the order is only for one icebreaker, although the entire fleet needs to be renewed. Erik Eklund, Director General of the Maritime Administration, emphasized the importance of shipping, noting that nine out of 10 goods exported from and imported to Sweden are transported by sea and that Sweden's basic industries depend on shipping working year-round.
The contract with the South Korean shipyard was signed despite the EU's new strategy to strengthen European shipyard capacities. It remains unclear why the contract was awarded to a South Korean yard despite the EU strategy, and what the timeline is for replacing the entire icebreaker fleet.