Helsinki Shipyard has been designing an icebreaker together with the Finnish company Aker Arctic for the Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel since the beginning of this year, companies have previously reported.
Construction of the icebreaker is due to start at the Hietalahti shipyard in 2023.
Finnish business newspaper Kauppalehti reports on July 11 that, due to economic sanctions against Russia, the vessel requires an export license before it can be handed over to its Russian customer.
“The icebreaker project has applied for an export license and is still pending. Naturally, there will be a delay in the progress of the work due to the licensing process. In all our activities, we comply with the sanctions’ regulations and the instructions of the authorities,” says in a comment to Kauppalehti Managing Director Simo Rastas.
Two cruise ships have been built at the Hietalahti shipyard this year, one of which, named Vega, will start luxury adventure cruises for the British operator Swan Hellenic Cruises later this month. The second, Diana, should be delivered at the end of the year to another British operator, Vodohod, which offers river cruises to Russia and other destinations.
The director noted that the construction phase of the Nornickel’s icebreaker is being delayed. “The schedule and continuation of the project is subject to the export authorization decision, but of course, there will now be a delay in the original schedule. The frame assembly phase will move from early 2023,” Rastas says in a comment to Kauppalehti.
According to Rastas, now the attention of the Finnish shipyard is focused on projects directed not only to Russia but also to other countries.