Working Conditions Aboard the Fennica

On February 25, 2018, Arctia announced that the multipurpose icebreaker Fennica has officially joined the icebreaking operations in the Kvarken, marking its position as the seventh icebreaker deployed for the Finnish icebreaking season. Located in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Kvarken is a critical waterway separating the Bothnian Bay from the Bothnian Sea, making it essential for maritime traffic. Other Arctia icebreakers, including Kontio, Otso, Polaris, and Urho, are currently supporting operations in the Bothnian Bay. Meanwhile, the eastern section of the Gulf of Finland is served by the icebreakers Voima and Sisu, ensuring safe passage for vessels navigating through icy conditions.

The Finnish Safety Investigation Authority has officially published the findings from the United States Coast Guard's Report of Investigation regarding the grounding incident involving Arctia's multipurpose icebreaker, the MSV Fennica. This significant maritime event took place close to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on July 2, 2015. For further details and to access the full report, visit the following link: http://turvallisuustutkinta.fi/fi/index/tutkintaselostukset/vesiliikenneonnettomuuksientutkinta/tutkintaselostuksetvuosittain/2015/m2015-a1mvfennicafinpohjakosketusalaskassa2.7.2015.html.

In a significant legal development, five Greenpeace activists who attempted to obstruct a Shell oil vessel from reaching Alaska last month are facing potential fines of $5,000 each for compromising operational safety. This announcement was made by the Coast Guard during a report to NBC News on Wednesday. The identities of the protesters remain undisclosed. They have a 30-day window to either pay the imposed fines or challenge the civil citations through a formal hearing with a Coast Guard officer. This enforcement action follows a dramatic protest where 13 individuals descended from the St. Johns Bridge over the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, on July 29 and 30. Their goal was to halt the passage of the icebreaker MSV Fennica as it made its way to Alaska. For more information, refer to the NBC News report.