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Finnish companies STX Finland Oy, Aker Arctic Technology Oy, Southeast Trading Oy (SET Group), and the Russian companies OAO Sovcomflot and FSUE Rosmorport have signed a cooperation agreement, with the purpose of developing and building a new type of oil spill combat icebreaker for Sovcomflot, the largest Russian shipping company.

According to STX Finland, the new vessel will be a major breakthrough in icebreaking technology and for the protection of the Baltic Sea.

The multipurpose vessel, which is about 67 metres long and 19 metres wide, has an asymmetrical hull that is based on icebreaking technology developed by Aker Arctic Technology Oy. It will be able to use an innovative sideways movement to collect the oil in demanding ice conditions, as well as to break a broad ice band effectively.

The vessel will also be able to independently carry out support, escorting and towing tasks for large tankers in the Baltic Sea. It is equipped with three rudder propeller devices and will also be able to solve a wide range of other towing and rescue tasks.

STX Finland Oy is a shipbuilding company that specializes in building special-purpose icebreaking and ice-class vessels and has a long history of cooperation with the Russian maritime industry. The company's shipyards have during the last century delivered approximately 2500 ships to Russia / Soviet Union.

"The cooperation agreement now concluded is an important indicator of the powers of the traditional Russian-Finnish cooperation within the maritime industry and is also an important milestone in the Baltic Sea environmental protection, and in strengthening the commercial and industrial ties between our countries," said Martin Landtman, the President of STX Finland.

Aker Arctic Technology Oy, a subsidiary of STX Finland, is focused on developing solutions for arctic and offshore vessels. The company has a world-leading facility for ice model trials in the business park of the port of Vuosaari in Helsinki.