Arctia’s Polaris is the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker.

“Eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in the Baltic Sea is a huge challenge”

Text: Ralf Ahlskog
Image: Companies

More than 1,000 companies operate in the Finnish maritime sector, which employs about 30,000 professionals. The sector has net sales of EUR 8 billion, and is one of Finland’s most important export industries. Arctic conditions and emissions targets have forced the sector to invest in even more energy-efficient solutions.

The Finnish maritime cluster consists of a broad range of operators, such as ports, shipping companies, shipyards, equipment manufacturers, design agencies, software developers, system suppliers and authorities. 60 per cent of the world’s largest cruise ships are designed and built in Finland.

As the Baltic Sea is shallow and sensitive, environmental values are an important aspect of our maritime industry. The waters around all Finnish ports can freeze over during the winter, which has enhanced our expertise and ability to build icebreakers. Freezing seas also require ships to expend more energy, which means that their design revolves around low-emission, energy-efficient solutions.

“Innovation and environmentally friendly solutions go hand in hand. The public and private sectors engage in close dialogue on the needs of the maritime sector. We’re discussing and developing the innovative solutions that are required for new ships or icebreakers, such as Polaris, the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker,” says Janne Peltola, a Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

Peltola also reminds us about Ice Pact: a joint project between Finland, Canada and the United States in which knowledge and expertise are shared in order to manufacture higher- quality icebreakers in a cost-effective manner. Nuclear power may even be a potential source of energy for future icebreakers.

“This project has enabled Finland to share its Arctic expertise with our allies and partners. Demand for this competence has increased as a result of the geopolitical situation and Finland’s membership in NATO.”

Winter conditions increase costs

According to statistics from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping have increased by 24.5 per cent in ten years, and stood at 847 Mt in 2022. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Ambitious milestones have also been set for 2030 and 2040, and they present challenges for Finnish engineering.

Eero Hokkanen, a Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, does not question the IMO’s objectives, but says that Finland and the EU will be highlighting the need for a flexible mechanism for global fuel standards within the IMO. The rationale behind this is mainly to take ice conditions into Finnish ports freeze over in winter and sea routes must be kept open with icebreakers. “Finland’s emissions from shipping are increasing, because vessels consume more fuel in icy waters. Consumption and emissions may be up to 20–60 per cent higher in icy conditions compared to open water. We have raised awareness of these issues at EU level, such as in the EU Emissions Trading System, but we now need the same recognition in the IMO,” says Hokkanen.

Norsepower Rotor Sail cylinders harness the wind to create powerful thrust. This enables the main engine to be throttled back, thereby saving fuel and reducing emissions. Pictured are sister ships M/V Berlin and M/V Copenhagen, which sail between Denmark and Germany. Both ships have one 30 m x 5 m cylindrical sail.

Hokkanen also points out that the majority of Finnish maritime traffic consists of short journeys within Europe. Operators mainly use roro and ropax vessels, which are not the most energy efficient.

“Eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in the Baltic Sea is a huge challenge. Which is why we also need to invest in alternative fuels and electrification throughout the Baltic Sea region,” says Hokkanen.

He points out that Finland is involved in developing and implementing both global and European shipping regulations in parallel, which is already generating a substantial workload for both officials and the industry. It also requires regional cooperation with Sweden in particular. They also share another common interest: thwarting the shadow fleet that operates in the Baltic Sea.

New technologies under development

Business Finland offers a broad range of services to help Finland position itself as a leader in the maritime and port sectors in terms of digital solutions, sustainability, and partnerships.

“Business Finland also provides innovation support for shipbuilding, which aims to develop and commercialise advanced onboard or offshore solutions. I’d also like to highlight the Veturi project, which focuses on new types of fuels and environmentally friendly technologies,” says Senior Adviser Markku Jokela.

Business Finland has allocated EUR 20 million to funding these projects, and another EUR 50 million to ecosystems. The investments have a total value of about EUR 150 million. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the IMO’s objectives. The maritime sector’s main selling points will be products and solutions aimed at reducing fossil fuel use; carbon capture; and emissions reduction in both air and sea travel. One good example of a new Finnish innovation is the Norsepower Rotor Sail, which uses minimal onboard electrical power to spin cylindrical sails on the vessel’s deck.