Navigation across the whole Arctic Ocean starting 2030, expected to be a new opportunity for Arctic cooperation
Accelerating efforts to lay the foundation for exploring the Northern Sea Route starting with the next-generation icebreaking research vessel
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Chun Jae-soo) announced that it attended the signing ceremony on Tuesday, July 29 for the agreement to construct the next-generation icebreaking research vessel between the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI; President Shin Hyoung-chul) and Hanwha Ocean (CEO Kim Hee-cheul). Selected as the main contractor, Hanwha Ocean received high marks in the previous technical evaluation for the optimal hull shape, excellent cold resistance, and research space centered on researchers. The signing of this agreement is expected to provide the momentum for Korea to advance into the Arctic.
As the MOF's key national project, the construction of the next-generation icebreaker research vessel is aimed at building a world-class icebreaker research vessel by December 2029. The next-generation icebreaking research vessel will have total tonnage that is more than double that of the existing Araon (7,507 tons → 16,560 tons), and its icebreaking capacity will also increase by approximately 50%. It is targeting the Polar Class 3 (PC3)* rating of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), and an eco-friendly LNG-MGO (low-sulfur fuel oil) dual-fuel system will be applied in line with the decarbonization era. Moreover, a modular research facility installed on board will increase research space utilization significantly compared to existing fixed facilities.
*Polar Class is a rating that indicates a ship's ice-sea operation performance and safety standards. The rating of PC3 is a level that allows year-round operation in two-year ice (multi-year sea ice) conditions.
When the next-generation icebreaker research vessel is launched, the Arctic research range—which is currently limited to 80 degrees north latitude—will expand to the North Pole; thus further reinforcing polar scientific research capabilities. In particular, navigation is expected to be possible throughout the entire Arctic Ocean by the summer of 2030 when the next-generation icebreaker research vessel will be deployed to the North Pole, playing a major role in the era of the Northern Sea Route such as securing the data necessary for developing the Northern Sea Route.
Furthermore, the issue of overburdened missions—such as polar research and base resupply—being concentrated on the existing Araon icebreaker is expected to be resolved, thereby extending the actual research period from the current 40 days to approximately three to four times longer.
"The next-generation icebreaking research vessel to be built with Korea's world-class technology is an infrastructure that can promote cooperation in the Arctic, including scientific research and resource cooperation. It will be the beginning of our efforts for steadily building the infrastructure and measurement-based data necessary for the Northern Sea Route's sustainable use and safe navigation," Minister Chun Jae-soo said.