Finland is considering moving part of its icebreaker fleet from the south of the country to the north to reduce the risk of possible Russian attacks.
According to the Finnish website Yle, the northern ports of Oulu and Kemi are among the possible locations for the icebreakers. Currently, the icebreakers are positioned at the Katajanokka port in Helsinki, which is relatively close to Russia.
Amid the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the Finns are taking some valuable lessons in terms of defense readiness and protection of critical infrastructure.
One of these lessons is the discussion around decentralizing the icebreaker bases. Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Ranne, said that the ministry is preparing an investment program for the national icebreaker fleet.
“The decentralization of icebreakers is just a small part of this complex issue, but it is also being considered. No final decision has been made in this regard yet,” Ranne said.
Markku Rautio, CEO of the Port of Kemi, also pointed out the advantages of decentralizing the icebreaker fleet. “When it comes to readiness regimes, it makes sense to take into account the lessons learned from Ukraine,” he said.
“Currently, the icebreakers are concentrated in Helsinki — practically all together and under the potential threat of a single Iskander missile,” Rautio added.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Kemi, Matti Ruotsalainen, stated that he sees no obstacles for the city to become a base port for icebreakers.
According to him, the key factor is a shift in planning and security approaches, considering that maintaining icebreakers in a constant state of readiness requires significant resources and regular maintenance.
Although the change has not been officially approved yet, this process will not be quick. The mayor of Oulu, Ari Alatosava, noted that the project cannot be implemented before 2030, as, in addition to still requiring approval, it will also be necessary to build the required facilities and technical infrastructure.
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