Fruit of a Decade-Long Challenge: Construction of Next-Generation Icebreaking Research Vessel Begins

Korea Polar Research Institute and Hanwha Ocean Sign Construction Contract
Next-Generation Icebreaking Research Vessel to Sail to the North Pole by 2030

The Korea Polar Research Institute, under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Hanwha Ocean have signed a contract to build the next-generation icebreaking research vessel. This large-scale national project, which has been in the works for ten years since the first preliminary feasibility study application in 2015, aims to construct a world-class icebreaking research vessel by 2029 with a total investment of 317.6 billion KRW. Starting in 2030, the vessel will be able to navigate to the North Pole, marking a major turning point in enhancing South Korea's polar science research capabilities and establishing a foundation for pioneering the Arctic sea route.

Kim Myungjin, Director of Marine Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated during a briefing at the Sejong Government Complex on this day, "With today's signing of the construction contract, the next-generation icebreaking research vessel will now enter about a year-long design phase."

He added, "After the official commencement of construction (steel cutting) at the end of next year, the next-generation icebreaking research vessel will be completed in 2029. Following final performance verification through icebreaking capability tests in polar waters, full-scale polar research will begin in 2030."

South Korea's only multipurpose icebreaking research vessel, the Araon, is limited to research activities during the summer because it must cover both the Antarctic and Arctic. Furthermore, due to its insufficient icebreaking capability (1.0m), it faces difficulties in exploring the central Arctic Ocean and high-latitude waters. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been promoting the construction of a new icebreaking research vessel dedicated to Arctic research to relieve the operational burden on the Araon.

The next-generation icebreaking research vessel will have a gross tonnage of 16,560 tons, more than twice the size of the Araon, and its icebreaking capability will be improved by 50%, being built to Polar Class 3 (a grade indicating a vessel's ice navigation performance and safety standards). It will be equipped with a dual-fuel system that can use both LNG and low-sulfur fuel oil, and it is designed to allow up to 100 people to conduct research activities for 75 days without resupply. A moon pool will be installed in the center of the hull for marine sample collection and equipment deployment, and modular research facilities have been introduced to greatly enhance the usability of research spaces.

Hanwha Ocean, responsible for construction, received high marks for proposing an optimal hull shape, excellent cold-resistance performance, and a researcher-centered spatial design. Hanwha Ocean has built the largest number of icebreaking LNG carriers (15 vessels) in the world and holds a unique track record in the field of special-purpose vessels, including the construction of special naval ships both domestically and internationally.

Once the next-generation icebreaking research vessel is deployed, the current research range in the Arctic, limited to latitude 80 degrees north, will be expanded to the North Pole. The period available for Arctic research will increase three to four times from the current 40 days, and the observation period, previously limited to summer, will be extended to winter. As a result, it is expected that there will be an improvement in securing measured data necessary for Arctic sea route navigation and in strengthening polar science research capabilities. The existing Araon will be dedicated to the Antarctic, which is also expected to resolve the issue of excessive research and supply missions.

Director Kim stated, "By the summer of 2030, when the next-generation icebreaking research vessel is deployed to the Arctic, it is expected that navigation will be possible throughout the entire Arctic Ocean," adding, "We will also play a leading role in international joint research and cooperation with Arctic coastal countries."

Minister Jeon Jaesoo of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries emphasized, "The next-generation icebreaking research vessel, to be built with world-class domestic technology, will serve as a crucial infrastructure for South Korea to become a leading nation in future Arctic activities," and added, "We will continue to strive for the safe use of the Arctic sea route and the acquisition of measured data."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.