Bird’s-eye view of the Swedish icebreaking vessel ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has become the first domestic shipyard to successfully win an order for a foreign icebreaking vessel.
On the 22nd, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced that it had signed a construction contract with the Swedish Maritime Administration for one icebreaking vessel worth USD 348.90 million (KRW 514.8 billion).
The icebreaking vessel is a ship with specialized functions to break sea ice and open sea routes when navigating seas covered with ice. It is characterized by a strong hull and power, and a special hull form designed to clear ice. The Swedish icebreaking vessel ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a large ship measuring 126 meters in length with a displacement of about 15,000 tons, and will be capable of continuously breaking ice with a thickness of approximately 1–1.2 meters.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to deliver the icebreaking vessel in 2029. The Swedish Maritime Administration plans to use it in the Baltic Sea off Sweden to provide icebreaking assistance, fleet operation support, towing operations, and ice management services.
This order is an achievement won in competition against traditional icebreaker powerhouses such as Finland and Norway. In the bidding process, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is reported to have received consistently high evaluations in areas including price competitiveness, delivery schedule, and technological capabilities.
Having become the first in Korea to enter the global icebreaking vessel market, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to actively pursue additional icebreaker orders based on this success. In particular, the United States last year passed a bill increasing its budget related to icebreakers to around USD 9.0 billion (KRW 13.3 trillion) and formed an “Icebreaker Construction Cooperation Body” with Canada and Finland to strengthen its influence in the Arctic. According to industry sources, these countries aim to build 70–90 icebreaking vessels over the next 10 years.
Joo Won-ho, CEO of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, “This icebreaker order marks the beginning of recognition of our capabilities,” adding, “We will continue to expand our export markets.”
Byun Jong-guk
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
ⓒ dongA.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction, redistribution, or use for AI training prohibited.
