Icebreaking Services Using a Class B Icebreaker

According to the Act on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (936/2018) one of the tasks of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA) is securing winter navigation to Finnish ports. According to the Act on Ice Classes of Ships and Icebreaker Assistance (1121/2005) FTIA is responsible for procuring icebreaking services for the whole of Finland in accordance with the act 1397/2016 considering public procurement. FTIA has eight contracts concerning icebreaking with service providers that will end before the start of the 2025-2026 icebreaking season. Finland and Sweden have a treaty concerning icebreaking according to which Finland must have four class A icebreakers and one class B icebreaker available for icebreaking in the Gulf of Bothnia and Sea of Åland. Icebreaking capacity additional to the treaty obligations is needed to ensure a proper service level for the whole Finnish sea area. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency called for tenders for three-year contract periods for seven class A icebreakers, two class B icebreakers and one class C icebreaker. The tendering period ended on 28 March 2025 and tenders were received for all but one class B icebreaker. This procurement includes one class B icebreaker. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency procures icebreaking service with one class B icebreaker for a period of 1 October 2025 to 30 November 2026.

The contract period is fixed from 1 October 2025 to 30 November 2026. The contract will also include two one-season options to be agreed by the Customer and supplier one year at a time. The readiness period for the icebreaker included in the agreement is 15 December to 31 May. The Customer will place icebreakers into operations during the readiness period according to the need for icebreaking capacity. More contracts may be tendered during the contract period that may affect the rate at which single icebreakers are put into operations.