Finnish Icebreakers Assist Hanseatic Spirit in Navigating the Frozen Bothnian Bay

The expedition cruise vessel Hanseatic Spirit, operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, faced significant challenges while navigating off the coast of Kemi, Finland. The ship, carrying over 200 passengers, became immobilized in dense sea ice that exceeded its operational limits.

Hanseatic Spirit has a PC6 ice-class rating, allowing it to traverse ice up to 70 cm thick. However, the ship encountered ice formations reaching up to 3 meters in thickness in the Bothnian Bay, where temperatures had plunged to -5°C (23°F). Given these harsh conditions, external assistance was required to continue its journey.

Captain Claas Fischer briefed the passengers on the situation, announcing the deployment of the icebreaker Kontio. This powerful vessel, with 20,000 horsepower, worked diligently to carve a path through the thick ice, securing a steel towline to the cruise ship. Due to the severity of the conditions, a second icebreaker, the Polaris, boasting 25,800 horsepower, was also dispatched to assist in clearing the passage.

Finland’s icebreaking fleet is known for its advanced capabilities and routinely aids vessels navigating the frozen waters of the Baltic region. Following the support from the icebreakers, Hanseatic Spirit was able to resume its journey toward Rauma by Monday, maintaining its schedule for a two-week Lapland expedition. The ship is scheduled to arrive at Hamburg’s Cruise Terminal Altona on Saturday.

Despite the delay, onboard programming continued without disruption, with General Expedition Manager Sascha Richter and his team conducting lectures on polar navigation, climate conditions, and Arctic exploration, enriching the passengers’ understanding of the challenges associated with high-latitude maritime operations.

For more incidents involving the Hanseatic Spirit, visit the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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