HD Hyundai, First in Korea to Secure Order for Overseas Icebreaker

*This content was translated by AI.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has successfully secured an order for an icebreaker commissioned overseas, marking the first time a Korean shipyard has won such a contract.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a construction contract with the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) for one icebreaker valued at 514.8 billion won. Notably, this order holds significant meaning as it is the first icebreaker construction project for the HD Hyundai group.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries received uniformly high evaluations for its price competitiveness, delivery schedule, and technical capabilities. The icebreaker ordered this time is scheduled for delivery in 2029 and will be tasked with icebreaking support, fleet operation support, towing operations, and ice management in the Baltic Sea in Sweden.

Notably, this order was achieved by competing with icebreaker powerhouses such as Finland and Norway amid growing global interest in the Arctic route and the development of the Arctic Ocean. It is significant as it marks the first time a Korean company has entered the global icebreaker market.

An icebreaker is a specialized vessel equipped with unique functions to crush sea ice and open a navigable route when traveling across seas covered in ice. Its key features include a reinforced hull, the power to push away sea ice, and a specialized hull design for ice removal.

The Swedish icebreaker ordered by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a large vessel with a length of 126 meters and a displacement of approximately 15,000 tons. It will be equipped with icebreaking capabilities at the 'PC (Polar Class) 4' level and will adopt an electric propulsion system. PC4 generally refers to the ability to continuously break ice with a thickness of about 1 to 1.2 meters.

Meanwhile, the United States passed legislation last year to significantly expand its budget for icebreakers to approximately 9 billion dollars and is making every effort to secure polar navigation capabilities, including establishing the 'ICE Pact' with Canada and Finland. The goal is to construct 70 to 90 icebreakers over the next 10 years. The icebreaker market is expected to grow alongside the Arctic route.

In a telephone interview with this newspaper, an HD Hyundai representative stated, "This icebreaker order has led to global recognition of the enhanced business capabilities resulting from the merger of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Mipo," and added, "This icebreaker is a vessel that generates electricity through a diesel engine to enable electric propulsion."

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*This content was translated by AI.