Letters to the Editor can be sent to brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca
This is a graphical representation of what Seaspan’s polar-class icebreaker will look like, when completed several years from now. Seaspan.
Dear Editor:
I just came across your article titled “Let’s get serious about shipping oil from Hudson Bay“.
You may be interested in some recent ice-related developments in the Canadian shipping industry.
Aker Arctic is a ship design and engineering firm in Finland. They designed Russia’s commercial LNG fleet operating out of Sabetta.
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/ob/
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/yamalmax/
Their latest variant of LNG tanker for Russia can operate year-round without icebreaker assistance from Sabetta. It has more propulsion power than Canada’s Polar Icebreaker.
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/arc7-lng-carrier/
In your article, you mention the Hudson Bay typically has 1m thick ice. The following Aker Arctic design for an Aframax crude oil tanker is designed for continuous ice breaking of 1m ice. It would likely not need icebreaker escort to operate year round from Hudson Bay.
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/arctic-aframax/
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Due to the Ukraine war, Aker Arctic has stopped doing business with Russia and is now designing ships for Canada, Europe and the US. Canada literally has access to the company that designed the ships for Russian LNG.
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/polar-icebreaker/
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/multi-purpose-vessel/
Another company in Finland, the Helsinki Shipyard, was purchased by Davie out of Quebec in 2023. They are currently building one of Canada’s icebreakers. These Finnish companies have been designing and building Russia and Europe’s commercial ice fleet for years. And now they are helping Canada.
https://helsinkishipyard.fi/news/
With designs from Aker Arctic, continuous shipping could be a reality from the Hudson Bay, even year-round container traffic from Asia through the Northwest Passage is a possibility.
https://akerarctic.fi/reference/arctic-container-ship-8000-teu/
I hope you find this information interesting. As a final note, even very intrepid Finnish sailboaters are transiting our northwest passage during the summer!
Alluring Arctic Sailing: Intercepted by the Canadian Federal Arctic Unit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lTybfDRIsI
Sincerely,
Trevor Wekel
Calgary
- 0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube
- 0121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 20260121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 2026
- 0134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 20260134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 2026
- 0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
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