Aging Tarmo Icebreaker to Get Helping Hand From Norway
A Norwegian-owned icebreaker will help the ailing 48-year-old Tarmo keep shipping lanes open in the Gulf of Finland this winter.
The Viking Icebreaking & Offshore company's Tor Viking will arrive in Tallinn on January 4.
The Maritime Administration signed an contract under which it will pay 3.42 million euros plus fuel costs for the ship's services.
The Tor Viking is a Swedish-flagged icebreaker with a length of 84 meters, beam of 18 meters and draft of 7.2 meters. Its main engines can put out 13,400 kilowatts. Under the agreement, two similarly-named ships also stand ready to substitute for the Tor Viking if needed.
Director general of the Maritime Administration Andrus Maide says the deal was a necessity even though autumn temperatures have been warm.
"Chartering the extra icebreaker for the Gulf of Finland is definitely necessary irrespective of how hard the winter will be, as only such agreements guarantee that sustainable and safe winter navigation can be maintained in Estonia."
Kristopher Rikken