[QUOTE=mainecheng;130763]First of all. Tups You are incorrect. Arctica and VSS contracts do not end 2014.[/QUOTE]
According to Arctia Shipping, Fennica and Nordica are listed as “available” starting from 5/2015 i.e. at the end of the 2014-2015 Baltic icebreaking season. Also, this article confirms that the charter is only until the end of the 2014 summer season. If it had been extended recently, it would have been in the news already due to the reasons I mentioned in the previous post.
[QUOTE=mainecheng;130763]It only seems reasonable that if the course forward becomes clearer than some new Capable vessels will be built. And most likely will include pure Ice Management/Ice Breakers, Ice AHTS, Ice Tugs, and Ice Tankers, Heck even Ice Rigs Although i’ve heard talk of Jackups and I personally don’t hold much stock in that idea but again that’s a Personal Opinion- Even though the water depths anywhere else in the world (except Arctic/Antarctic regions) it would be a solid fit.[/QUOTE]
It’s obvious that if offshore oil production starts in Alaska, the operation will be supported by US-built vessels. However, at the moment no-one is building ice-capable tonnage and even rumors about such vessels being on the drawing boards are few and far between. I guess the offshore industry is waiting for Shell to make its next move because no-one wants to build such expensive ships without knowing when and if they will be needed. After all, an icebreaker cannot really compete with open-water vessels in e.g. the Gulf of Mexico.
[QUOTE=mainecheng;130763]As for the 2nd paragraph. I’m not sure I fully buy your point(s) I’m sure the Finnish gov’t is in favor of Oil exploration.[/QUOTE]
While the whole government is not against oil drilling, the minister responsible for steering the state-owned companies (such as Arctia Offshore) may prevent them from signing new contracts if they are against Finland’s Arctic agenda. After all, the CEO was threatened with firing if he didn’t withdraw the charges against Greenpeace in 2012. That means that if the operational management of the company does not do as the owner wishes, it can always be changed.
In a recent article, the CEO of Arctia stated that they would like to double the size of their fleet and, as the escort icebreakers are retired, replace them with multipurpose vessels capable of supporting Arctic drilling. The ministers were against this and were primarily looking for ways to employ the Finnish icebreakers along the Northern Sea Route to escort cargo ships. As a sign of opposition against secondary uses in offshore work, the new icebreaker that was ordered from the shipyard on Friday will be a “traditional” one that will be employed year-round in the home waters.
Personally, I’d like to see as many icebreaking vessels built as possible. I just hope that the US shipyards would finally learn to produce double-curvature steel plates. It’s a pain to design a vessel with hull geometry restrictions.