Building of Aker new ice technology center started - the cornerstone was laid by the Minister of Transport

04-April-05

The cornerstone of Aker Arctic´s new ice model test facility was today laid by Mrs. Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications of Finland.
Aker Arctic Technology Inc. (AARC), a subsidiary to Aker Finnyards, which started operations on January 1, 2005, will during 2005 erect a modern new office and ice model test facility in the Vuosaari district of Helsinki, as the first investment in the new marine business park to be created.

The value of the building project is nearly EUR 10 million. Aker Arctic will at this first stage employ some 15 people. The company´s knowledge in ice technology is beyond compare. The most advanced ship designs, as the double acting ship concept originate from Aker Arctic. More than 60 % of all the world´s icebreakers have been built at Aker Finnyards´ yards. Aker Finnyards´ orderbook today even includes an icebreaker and several icegoing vessels.

It is Aker Yards` strategy to seek growth in the business for arctic technology. AARC will also start offering its own portfolio of arctic ship designs for other yards, ship owners and offshore operators interested in operations in iceinfested cold waters.
Oil and gas exploration is growing especially in the arctic regions, which again means growing demand of icebreaking supply vessels as well as icegoing tankers.

Due to the attractive market and growth potential in arctic shipbuilding, ABB, Wärtsilä Corporation and Aker Kvaerner Engineering and Technology AS have taken a 12.5 per cent stake each in the new entity. These partners will through their expertise actively contribute to the technology developed by AARC, which will lead to enhanced overall performance of ice going vessels.

The first arctic technology centre of Aker Finnyards was originally established in 1969 and has been operating its own ice model basin for 35 years. The current laboratory was the biggest in the world when completed in 1983. Now an ice laboratory of third generation will be introduced. “Aker Arctic Technology and its predecessors have been involved in projects in all freezing water areas on the globe. The accumulated knowledge of the problems and the technologies has made AARC capable of creating innovative solutions for operation suffering from the presence of ice”, says Mikko Niini, managing director AARC.
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For more information, please contact:
Mikko Niini, Managing Director Aker Arctic Technology,
tel. +358 400 322 747 or +358 10 670 2499