MINISTER SAKARI PUISTO: FINNISH MARITIME COMPETITIVENESS IS ANCHORED BY PERFORMANCE, QUALITY – AND RELIABLE, SPEEDY VESSEL DELIVERY
New Ice Age hits Finnish shipyards
MINISTER SAKARI PUISTO: FINNISH MARITIME COMPETITIVENESS IS ANCHORED BY PERFORMANCE, QUALITY – AND RELIABLE, SPEEDY VESSEL DELIVERY
by: SAMI J. ANTEROINEN photos: LAURI HEIKKINEN / PRIME MINISTER’ S OFFICE
The United States relies on Finnish expertise to create an icebreaker armada for its Coast Guard. According to a new deal struck between Finland and the USA, four icebreakers will be built in Finland and seven in the United States. The icebreaker order is a concrete example of long-term cooperation between Finland and the United States and will also serve to boost cooperation within the ICE Pact between Finland, the United States and Canada. SEATEC interviewed Sakari Puisto, the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs, about the significance of the contract.
Why is Finland so strong in arctic shipbuilding? – The strength of Finnish shipbuilding lies the strong role of the subcontracting network. Eventually, when icebreakers are built in the United States, too, it is very likely that a large part of this subcontracting network will also be involved there. This thinking is based on the fact that the ships are designed right here in Finland.
WHAT ICEBREAKER EXPERTISE DO FINNS HAVE THAT IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD?
– Icebreakers are very special ships that require their own unique design and numerous devices that are specific to icebreakers. For example, the powerful propellers and shafts are designed and built to withstand very heavy loads. The ship’ s hull is durable and specially shaped so that it can break the ice in the first place. There are solutions on icebreakers that are not found on other ships at all.
The icebreaker industry has gradually developed in Finland, and we have special design expertise and product development for all kinds of icebreakers. Our shipyards have also built many of these, and they have accumulated a lot of practical knowhow for building icebreakers.
8 seatec 1 / 2026