Partners to develop and build new polar icebreaker

German companies, Elomatic Maritime Technologies GmbH and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems AG (TKMS) have signed a contract to design and build a new icebreaking polar research vessel. Polarstern 2 is to be built at the TKMS shipyard in Wismar and will replace the existing Polarstern in 2030.

TKMS was awarded the public tender for construction of the new vessel in December. It was the result of two years of cooperation between the company and Elomatic in developing design of the vessel. Polarstern 2 is set to become the world’s largest and most advanced icebreaking research and logistics ship capable of breaking ice up to 1.8m thick. Consulting and engineering firm, Elomatic, will supply engineering support and yard consultancy during the ship’s construction.

The vessel will be equipped with a wide range of scientific and logistics equipment including laboratories for scientific testing procedures. It will use a combination of green fuels and a large battery system.

Commenting that the project is the largest single ship design contract in the company’s 55-year history, Elomatic managing director, Guido Schulte, said: “We are extremely excited to continue our collaboration with our partners at TKMS and look forward to further contributing to the creation of this groundbreaking polar research vessel, to be built in our home town.”

CEO of TKMS, Oliver Burkhard, commented: “With the new Polarstern contract, we apply our maritime expertise also to the civilian sector, and prove that we can offer technological excellence at internationally competitive terms. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is not only setting shipbuilding standards but is also making an active contribution to international research in the fight against climate change – and we are proud to support this mission with technology and innovation.”