Visit onboard "Urho" Finnish icebreaker

[Cornelia Klier]

Visit onboard August 2013 during summer holidays in Helsinki (Katajanokka)

Thanks to 1st officer Tapio Tammento and Ms. Pia Broumand.

Some basic info:
The ships are laid up for summers, but for 6 weeks maintainence work is going on. For 4 weeks, each ship is entirely closed, but only one at a time. Ships there were: "Voima", "Urho" ("Sisu" was for repairs at Tallinn/Estonia) "Otso", "Kontio". Kontio is now also equipped as an oil-recovery vessel. The company "Arctia" also plans to add these facilities to their other icebreakers. More here: http://www.arctia.fi/oil_recovery














Going onboard, to the bridge. Some info:
 http://www.arctia.fi/en_urho





















There was not so much time, so all plans etc. were photographed quickly.









Visiting ships officer where all kinds of paperwork is done, ordering spare parts, proviant etc. and an extra cabin which is not used. Colors still 1970 style.





The ship is named after the ex. Finnish president "Urho Kekkonen". A photo of him and a book for special guests. The ship was used and is used also for VIP-meetings. Although, nowadays if you have a conference/a party, you can call at Arctia's "event manager" and rent the conference-room, as well they serve food.

 http://www.arctia.fi/events

Only in Finnish, but it says that one can rent the facilities onboard "Urho" and "Sisu" and as well have gastronomic service from

 13.5. - 28.6. und 5.8. - 29.11.


Sauna, messroom (one for officers, one for ratings), library, fitness-room and - a swimming pool. INSIDE - of course  




















Engine room, last photo shows the equipment that is used for pumping water from side to side to make the ship move when it is stuck in ice. This ship has FOUR screws, we went only in the engine room to the forward. There was alot of repair going on, and all was extraordinary clean.



















The above mentioned conference room, and - it has also modern art.







The time was running, we went outside to see the giant winch which is used to tow vessels in case there are difficulties to follow the ship.









Finally we learned, that "Voima" will be sold or scrapped, and  that "Arctia" is going to replace it by another conventional (not multipurpose!) icebreaker.

I hope, you enjoyed the read,

with greetings from Germany,

Cornelia

[Tomas]

Both thumbs up from Norway.

[Tuomas Romu]

I don't think they'll scrap Voima. Considering the fact that it was completely rebuilt in the late 1970s, I'm quite sure someone will buy it.

As for the new icebreaker, it'll be conventional in the sense that it's an icebreaker and not a multipurpose offshore ship like Fennica, Nordica and Botnica, but otherwise there's not much "conventional" in it... :>

Anyway, great set!

[Cornelia Klier]

I don't think they'll scrap Voima. Considering the fact that it was completely rebuilt in the late 1970s, I'm quite sure someone will buy it.

As for the new icebreaker, it'll be conventional in the sense that it's an icebreaker and not a multipurpose offshore ship like Fennica, Nordica and Botnica, but otherwise there's not much "conventional" in it... :>

Anyway, great set!

Tuomas, thank you for your hint, so we all can be courious, what the Finns will come up with in the sense of unconventional :-) I have not yet manage to find anything on the net but I am sure, there will be, when there is time for this.

[spotti]

Outstanding, Cornelia, - simply outstanding! Your detailed photo documentation gives
an in depth impression of this interesting ship.
Further, I think that your work points to suggest to the admins to establish a new category on shipspotting. Something like "Ship documentation" where the whole ship is covered, outside and inside, and covering active ships as well as museum ships.
From my own experience I could mention MS LOFOTEN of Hurtigruten. During a stay in Svolv

[Tuomas Romu]

Tuomas, thank you for your hint, so we all can be courious, what the Finns will come up with in the sense of unconventional :-) I have not yet manage to find anything on the net but I am sure, there will be, when there is time for this.

There was some information available in Finnish on a government acquisition site, such as some requirements for minimum operational capability and a bit about the propulsion arrangement, but it has apparently disappeared since then as the bid was closed.

Anyway, the new icebreaker is pretty conventional when it comes to normal vessel operations. The primary purpose is icebreaking, but it can be used for emergency towing and oil spill response as well. So, no offshore business or anything like that is envisioned.

Oh, and it has three propellers

[The Catman]

Very interesting to see inside Urho - some of it is as expected, but never thought there would be a swimming pool!

Thanks
TC