@Railotech

World's leading designer of icebreakers, ice-going ships and other solutions for freezing seas with in-house ice model testing laboratory. ex-Aker Arctic

 Finland, Helsinki
railotech.fi
Joined August 2014
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  • Followers3K
2.6KMedia
This is more than a boring corporate account. We enthusiastically cover everything related to #icebreakers β€” not just our own projects β€” and are happy to answer your questions. We try to maintain an overall positive vibe. Occasionally there are also pictures of our office dog.
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Railotech retweeted
Polar Observer@PolarObs18h
This weekend, the UK's polar icebreaker #RRSSirDavidAttenborough departed the UK for #Antarctica, and @BAS_News's aircraft fleet began to touchdown at Rothera Research Station. The 2026/27 Antarctic science field season is officially underway! bas.ac.uk/news/a-new-antarct…

A new Antarctic science season begins for 2026/27 - British Antarctic Survey

From investigations using cutting-edge technologies, to building on decades of data collection – this season’s science will help us understand how this frozen landscape is changing.

bas.ac.uk
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Project Shackleton to replace Royal Navy ice patrol ship | @UKDefJournal ukdefencejournal.org.uk/proj…

Project Shackleton to replace Royal Navy ice patrol ship

Work on replacing HMS Protector is being run under Project Shackleton, and the Defence Investment Plan has allocated funding for a successor to the Royal Navy's ice patrol ship, according to an...

ukdefencejournal.org.uk
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Who is building an #icebreaker with Chinese 10-megawatt azimuthing propulsion units on an "European" yard? 🀨 There's a longer article on @globaltimesnews, but it does not have any further details. globaltimes.cn/page/202610/1…

China unveils first domestically developed 10-megawatt polar icebreaking propulsor

China's first domestically developed high-power podded propulsor designed for polar icebreaking vessels rolled off the production line in Shanghai on Tuesday, marking a major breakthrough in the...

globaltimes.cn
China Focus
@China__FocusOct 21
China's first domestically developed high-power podded propulsor designed for polar icebreaking vessels rolled off the production line in Shanghai on Tuesday. Often described as the "heart" of polar vessels, the 10-megawatt podded propulsor is expected to arrive at a European shipyard in late November before being installed on a vessel in February 2027. It can operate at 160% of its rated torque under icebreaking conditions and break through ice up to 2.1 m thick, including 20 cm of snow cover. Its all-electric propulsion system and 360-degree rotating design enable icebreaking in both forward and reverse directions.
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The reason why I'm wondering who's buying these is that the applicable Russian #icebreaker projects that we know of β€” IBSV02, 21900M2 and 23680 β€” all have azimuthing propulsion units that are rated for 8–9 MW and the other details don't really match either.
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EU's Arctic Strategy calls for mapping industrial capabilities and Arctic operational needs, strengthening technological leadership, and supporting joint procurement and resource-sharing to improve the availability of advanced #icebreakers across Europe. international-partnerships.e…

EU’s Arctic Strategy

The EU Arctic Strategy sets out how the EU will work with its Member States, Arctic partners, local communities and Indigenous Peoples to strengthen security, respond to climate change, support...

international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu
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Here's also @lvmfi's English-language announcement about two new homeports for the Finnish #icebreakers: valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/14108…

Two new home ports for icebreakers - Finnish Government

valtioneuvosto.fi
Railotech@RailotechOct 16
The Finnish #icebreaker fleet will be spread out after the 2026–2027 #icebreaking season.
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The Finnish #icebreaker fleet will be spread out after the 2026–2027 #icebreaking season.
LVM@lvmfiOct 16
LVM on ohjannut Arctia Oy:tΓ€ sijoittamaan murtajia nykyistΓ€ useampaan paikkaan ja lΓ€hemmΓ€ksi PerΓ€meren operointialuetta. JÀÀnmurtajien kotisatamat tulevat olemaan jÀÀnmurtokauden 2026–2027 pÀÀttyessΓ€ Helsinki, Pori ja Kemi. Lue lisÀÀ πŸ‘‡ lvm.fi/-/jaanmurtajille-kaks…
Kuvassa on ministeri Lulu Ranne ja hΓ€nen sitaattinsa: ”JÀÀnmurtajien sijoittelua on arvioitu uudelleen muuttuneessa toimintaympΓ€ristΓΆssΓ€. Uusilla kotisatamilla varmistetaan, ettΓ€ murtajat ovat ensisijaisesti siellΓ€, missΓ€ niitΓ€ tarvitaan 24/7.”

ALT Kuvassa on ministeri Lulu Ranne ja hΓ€nen sitaattinsa: ”JÀÀnmurtajien sijoittelua on arvioitu uudelleen muuttuneessa toimintaympΓ€ristΓΆssΓ€. Uusilla kotisatamilla varmistetaan, ettΓ€ murtajat ovat ensisijaisesti siellΓ€, missΓ€ niitΓ€ tarvitaan 24/7.”

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Of course we just published an #ArcticPassion News article about using level ice #icebreaking capability as a benchmark for comparing #icebreakers. However, CCGS Imnaryuaq is an excellent all-rounder and in many ways superior to the old triple-shafts. railotech.fi/article/is-leve…

Is Level Icebreaking a Valid Measure?

Speed in level ice has been the standard icebreaker benchmark for decades - but smooth, uniform level ice is rare in the real world. Optimising for it can compromise everything else. Railotech's...

railotech.fi
Railotech@RailotechOct 16
Now that CCGS Imnaryuaq has been laid down at @Seaspan, it's perhaps worth it to remind everyone just how good #icebreaker Canada is building. The red dot is CCGS Imnaryuaq's design #icebreaking capability on the h-v-curve of Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers. πŸ’ͺ
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Part of CCGS Imnaryuaq's high operational #icebreaking capability is due to its modern twin-azimuth hybrid propulsion configuration β€” our patented Hybrid DASβ„’ solution. There's an #ArcticPassion News article about that as well. railotech.fi/article/hybrid-…
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Now that CCGS Imnaryuaq has been laid down at @Seaspan, it's perhaps worth it to remind everyone just how good #icebreaker Canada is building. The red dot is CCGS Imnaryuaq's design #icebreaking capability on the h-v-curve of Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers. πŸ’ͺ
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The full-scale ice trials report of the 60-megawatt Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers can be found here: cyberleninka.ru/article/n/le… Oh, and for the record CCGS Imnaryuaq's propulsion power will be "just" 34 megawatts.
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Kanadassa on eilen juhlittu rannikkovartioston uuden polaarimurtajan kâlinlaskua. CCGS Imnaryuaq tulee valmistuessaan olemaan Pohjois-Amerikan suurin jÀÀnmurtaja ja yli 2.5 metrin jÀÀnmurtokyvyllÀÀn yksi maailman suorituskykyisimmistÀ jÀÀtÀmurtavista aluksista.
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Projektin kannalta kriittinen jÀÀnmurtajaosaaminen on luonnollisesti perΓ€isin tÀÀltΓ€ Vuosaaren perukoilta. Toimitamme myΓΆs yhden jÀÀnmurtajan kolmesta potkurista. Railotechin osuudesta CCGS Imnaryuaqin suunnittelussa voit lukea vaikkapa tΓ€stΓ€ jutusta: railotech.fi/article/designi…
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KΓΆlinlaskutilaisuudesta taas lΓΆytyy lisΓ€tietoa @Seaspan -telakan lehdistΓΆtiedotteesta, josta tuo ensimmΓ€isten twiitin valokuvakin on perΓ€isin. seaspan.com/press-release/se…

Seaspan Shipyards hosts ceremonial keel laying for the future flagship icebreaker of the Canadian...

The future CCGS Imnaryuaq will be the biggest polar icebreaker ever built in Canada, establishing a commanding presence year-round in Canada’s Arctic sea Β Β  Oct. 14, 2026 β€” North Vancouver. B.C β€” β€œI...

seaspan.com
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Canadian Coast Guard marks major shipbuilding milestone with keel laying of polar #icebreaker CCGS Imnaryuaq | @Canada @CoastGuardCAN CCGS Imnaryuaq will be the largest and most capable polar #icebreaker ever built in North America. canada.ca/en/canadian-coast-…
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Quick update of some #icebreaking fleet timeline charts. Admiral Makarov and Krasin have been downgraded to subarctic icebreakers. USCG's light domestic icebreakers (existing 65' WYTL and future HSC-L) continue to be excluded due to their size. Otherwise business as usual.
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Looks like I had used the "old" names for the two CCG AOPS variants. Some early Canadian press releases referred to them as CCGS Donjek Glacier and CCGS Sermilik Glacier: canada.ca/en/canadian-coast-… However, "Glacier" has since been dropped from the names: canada.ca/en/canadian-coast-…
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We’re pleased to share that we have brought another safe and successful shipping season to a close. The final convoy left Milne Port on October 10, 2026, at 6:30 pm. This year, we safely loaded 48 ore-carrying vessels, including 4 Capesize and 8 Baby Capesize ships. These Capesize ships are more than twice the size of our other carriers, which allow us to move more cargo with fewer ships, fewer transits and lower CO2 emissions. As in previous years, we implemented strict adaptive mitigation measures, including delaying the start of the shipping season until icebreaking was no longer required, vessels travelled in convoys, when possible, to reduce overall underwater sound, and ships continued to limit their speeds to an industry leading 9 knots. These measures were reached in direct response to ongoing consultation with Inuit and in full compliance with our commitments. As in years past, this shipping season also included several monitoring programs including the Marine Mammal Aerial Survey Program (MMASP) and the Rocky Reef and Aquatic Invasive Species and Non-Indigenous Species (AISNIS) Program. Thank you to all Baffinland team members who worked diligently to make this year’s shipping season a success! α–α••αŠα“±α’ƒα‘α’α‘¦ α‘α“΄α–ƒα‘Žα’Œα’α‘Žα–ƒα•†αŠα’ƒα“΄α–… ᐱᔭᕇᖅᐸα“ͺα“•αŠα“•α•α“‚α‘¦α‘Žα“α“‚α’ƒ αŠα‘¦α‘•α•α“‡α™±α‘¦α‘α’ƒα‘―α‘¦ αŠα’»α’ͺ α‘²α”ͺα“―α“‚α–ƒα‘¦α‘ŽαŠα–…α‘α’ƒα‘―α‘¦ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα–ƒα•α“‡α’₯α’ƒ α’ͺᑐᕙα“ͺα“•αŠα“•α–…α–’α“‚. α‘­α–‘α“ͺᓕᖅᐹᑦ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα‘¦ α‘­α–‘α“•α•‡α‘¦α‘ŽαŠα–‘α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ αŠα‘•α…α‘¦α‘Žα’ƒα‘°α–…α‘α‘¦ αŠα…α“ͺα“šα“šα…α–…α‘α‘¦ α•Ώα™³αŠα“‚ α‘α“šα’ƒα‘•α•α‘―α–•α’₯ ᐅᑐᐃᕆ 10, 2026-α’₯, 6:30. α‘•α’ͺᑐα’ͺα“‚ αŠα•α•Œα’α’₯, αŠα‘¦α‘•α•α“‡α™±α‘¦α‘α’ƒα‘―α‘¦ ᐅᓯᓕᖅᓱᐃᓯα’ͺᓕᖅᑐᒍᑦ 48-α“‚α’ƒ α“΄α••α’ƒα“΄α“‚-ᐅᓯα”ͺα’ƒα“΄α“‚α’ƒ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα“‚, αƒα“šα…α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ 4 αŠα–α”ͺᕐα”ͺαŠα‘¦ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα“‚α’ƒ αŠα’»α’ͺ 8 α’₯ᑭᓐᓂᖅᓡᕐα”ͺα’ƒ αŠα–α”ͺᕐα”ͺαŠα“‚α‘¦ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα“‚α’ƒ. α‘–α’ƒα‘―αŠ αŠα–α”ͺᕐα”ͺαŠα‘¦ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα‘¦ ᐅᖓᑖᓂ α’ͺα•α•ˆαŠα–…α‘Žα“ͺα“—αŠα–… αŠα–α“‚α–…α“΄α…α’§α‘¦ αŠα“―α–α“α“‚ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα–‘α”ͺᓂᑦ, αŠα…α“ͺα“šα–…α‘Žα‘¦α‘Žα”ͺᓐᓇᖅᖒᑕ αŠα–α“‚α–…α“΄α“‚α’ƒ α…α“―α“—α‘Žα’ƒ α…α“„α–…α‘αƒα™±α“α“‚α–…α“΄α…α“—α‘Žα’ƒ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα‘¦, αƒα–α•α•‹α”­α“—αŠα™±α“α“‚α–…α“΄α…α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ αŠα’»α’ͺ α±α“—αŠα™±α“α“‚α–…α“΄α…α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ ᐸᐅᒃᓴᓂᒃ αƒα“―αŠα•Ώα“ƒα‘¦. αŠα•α•Œα’Žα“―α’ͺα”ͺα“‚, αŠα‘α“•α–…α‘Žα‘¦α‘Žα“―α’ͺα”ͺᒍᑦ α’ͺα“•α’ƒα‘•α…α”­α•†αŠα–ƒα“ͺα“šα•†α’ƒα‘α“‚α’ƒ ᐋᖅᑭᒑᕕᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐα’₯α’ƒ αΈα“šα…α’ͺα‘Žα‘¦α‘Žα“‡α“²α‘Žα“‚α’ƒ, αƒα“šα…α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ α‘­α–‘α•™α•†αŠα–…α“―α’ͺα“‚α–“ α±α’‹αŠα•α••α–“ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα–ƒα•α“‡α…α‘¦ α‘­α“―αŠα“‚ α“―α‘―α“‚α’ƒ αŠα”­α…α–…α‘αƒα“ƒα‘¦ αŠα‘α–…α‘•α…α”­α•†αŠα–ƒα•ˆα“α“ƒα•ˆα‘Žα’ƒ, ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα‘¦ αƒα–α•α•‹α“—α‘Žα’ƒ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα‘¦ α‘­α–‘α“•α•‡α‘¦α‘ŽαŠα–‘α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ αŠα‘•α…α‘¦α‘Žα’ƒα‘°α–…α‘α‘¦, ᐊα”ͺᕐᓇᙱᒃᑳᖓᑦ, α±α“—αŠα–α™±α–’α’‹α‘¦ α‘•α’ͺᐃᓐᓄᓕᒫᖅ ᐃᒫᓂ ᓂᐱᖃᖅᑐᑦ, αŠα’»α’ͺ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα‘¦ α‘­α’‘α“•α“•α–…α“―α“―α’ͺᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᐅα”ͺα’₯ αŠα‘α–…α‘•α…α“ͺα“—αŠα‘•α–…α‘α’₯ 9 α“ˆα“α‘¦. α‘•α’ͺα’ƒα‘―αŠ ᐱᓕᕆᔾα”ͺᓰᑦ α‘Žα‘­α…α‘Žα“―α’ͺα”ͺᑦ ᑭᐅᔭᐅα“ͺα“šα‘¦α‘–α•‹α“±α’ƒα–’α‘Žα’ƒ α‘α“΄α•‹α“±αŠα•α••α…α–α“α“‡α–ƒα‘¦α‘•α–…α‘Žα“ͺᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ αŠα’»α’ͺ αŠα‘•α–α•α“—α’‹α‘¦ α’ͺᓕᖁα“ͺᓗᒋᑦ α±α“‚αŠα•α“‚α•‹α•ˆα‘Žα‘¦α‘Žα“α“‚α’ƒ. αŠα•α•Œα’Žα“―α’ͺα”ͺα“‚, ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα–ƒα–ƒα‘¦α‘•α•α“‚α–… ᐱᖃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓯα’ͺα”ͺα–… ᐊα’₯α“±α’α“šα–•α“‚α’ƒ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐸα“ͺα“•αŠα–α“α“‡α•α“‚α•α’§α‘¦ α±α“•α•†αŠα“‚α’ƒ αƒα“šα…α“ͺα“—α‘Žα’ƒ ᑕᕆᐅα’₯ᑦ ᐳᐃᔩᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓃᑦ α±α“•α•†αŠα“‚α’ƒ (MMASP) αŠα’»α’ͺ αƒα‘²α•α•ˆα™³α–…α‘Žα‘•α…α”ͺᑦ, ᐃᒫᓂᓗ α‘Žα‘­α‘‰αΈα’ƒα‘α‘¦ ᐆα’ͺα”ͺᕋᓛᑦ (AIS) / ᑕᒫᓂᕐα’₯ᐅᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐆα’ͺα”ͺᓄᑦ (NIS) α±α“•α•†αŠα“‚α’ƒ. α–α”­α“α“‡α’¦α–…α‘•αƒα“α“ˆα“—α’ƒα³α‘¦ αƒα“˜α“α“‡α‘Žα’ƒ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᓐᓂᑦ α±α“•α•†α–ƒα‘Žα’Œα“„α‘¦ αƒα“šα’‹α”­α…α”ͺᑦ α±α“•α•†α‘¦α‘ŽαŠα–α“α“‡α•α“‚α–α“α“„α‘¦ α‘•α’ͺᑐα’ͺα“‚ αŠα•α•Œα’α’₯ ᐅα’₯αŠα•α”ͺαŠα–ƒα•α“‡α–… α‘²α”ͺα“―α“‚α–ƒα‘¦α‘ŽαŠα–α“ͺᓗᒍ! #Baffinland #MaryRiverProject #NorthBaffin #ArcticEnvironment #MarineMonitoring #Nunavut #Mining
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"Another stopgap solution might be to again charter an existing ice-class vessel." What if none are available? When it comes to ships with #icebreaking capability, there are not that many to choose from β€” and hardly any are for sale. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o…

List of icebreakers - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org
Navy Lookout
@NavyLookoutOct 13
Latest news article: HMS Protector towed into Devonport with her future uncertain navylookout.com/hms-protecto…
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