Aker Arctic Technology Oy (often shortened to Aker Arctic) is a Finnish engineering company that operates an ice model test basin in Helsinki. In addition to ship model testing, the company offers various design, engineering and consulting services related to icebreakers, other icegoing vessels and arctic offshore projects as well as full scale trials, field expeditions and training for icy conditions. Formerly the arctic research centre of Wärtsilä and later Masa-Yards, Aker Arctic was established on 30 December 2004 as an independent company with Finnish Industry Investment Ltd, ABB and Aker Solutions as its current shareholders.
Aker Arctic and its predecessors have designed more than half of the world's icebreakers.[4] In addition, the company is responsible for a number of recent inventions in the design of icegoing ships, such as the double acting ship and oblique icebreaker concepts.[5][6]
History
Finnish icebreaker Polaris, built in 2016, is based on Aker Arctic's Aker ARC 130 design
The history of ice model testing in Finland began when Wärtsilä Icebreaking Model Basin (WIMB) was opened in a converted air raid shelter in Helsinki in 1969. The second ice test basin in the world, preceded by and modeled after the 1955-built Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute in Leningrad, Soviet Union, was a result of co-operation between Wärtsilä and Esso International, initially created for developing the hull form of the icebreaking oil tanker SS Manhattan.[7] Later Wärtsilä, already an experienced and widely recognized builder of icebreaking ships, utilized the 50-metre (160 ft) test basin for its own projects at a time when Helsinki New Shipyard was continuously building new icebreakers.[8] In the early 1980s, a decision was made to construct a new model test facility above ground.[9]
Wärtsilä Arctic Research Centre (WARC), inaugurated in February 1983, was intended to become the leading ice model test facility in the world. The model basin measuring 77.3 metres (254 ft) in length utilized a new type of inhouse-developed fine-grained model ice which was later licensed to Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute (KSRI) in Russia and the ice model basin at the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland. In the mid-1980s, WARC also took over the responsibilities of Wärtsilä Arctic Design and Marketing (WADAM), a separate department which offered design and consultancy services to outside clients.[8] In addition to inhouse R&D and commercial projects, the work carried out by WARC included basic research conducted by post-graduate students and research for the Finnish government. The work setup continued until the bankruptcy of Wärtsilä Marine in 1989.[9]
When Masa-Yards took over the shipbuilding business of Wärtsilä in 1989, WARC became known as Masa-Yards Arctic Research Centre (MARC). Although initially scientific projects gained high priority,[8] from 1990 on the work was primarily commercial. When Kværner, the owner of Masa-Yards since 1991, merged with its rival company Aker ASA and withdrew from the shipbuilding business in the early 2000s, it was decided to establish a new company to separate the arctic research department from the turbulent shipbuilding business. In addition, as the land lease agreement was reaching its end, a decision was made to construct a new model test facility elsewhere.[8][9]
Aker Arctic Technology Oy was established on 30 December 2004 with Kværner Masa-Yards (later STX Finland) as its major shareholder and ABB, Aker Kværner (today Aker Solutions) and Wärtsilä as minor shareholders.[10] Wärtsilä later withdrew from the joint company and sold its shares to the other shareholders. The construction of the new model test facility with a 75-metre (246 ft) model basin began in Vuosaari, near the old shipyard, in 2005 and Aker Arctic moved to its current premises in February 2006.[9]
On 17 December 2013, the state-owned holding company Finnish Industry Investment Ltd. purchased 66.4% of Aker Arctic's shares from STX Finland which previously owned 71.4% of the company. The remainder was divided equally between the minor shareholders, ABB and Aker Solutions, who both increased their share from 14.3% to 16.8%.[3] According to the Minister of Economic AffairsJan Vapaavuori, the company was acquired in order to prevent it from being sold to a foreign owner and as part of a funding arrangement for STX Finland.[11]
On 1 June 2015, Aker Arctic acquired full ownership of AKAC Inc.[12] The Canada-based company was established in 1984 by Arno Keinonen, who had previously worked as the director of the Wärtsilä Icebreaking Model Basin.[13]
References
^Aker Arctic saa uuden toimitusjohtajan. Turun Sanomat, 4 January 2014. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
^ abc"Aker Arctic Technology Oy" (in Finnish). Kauppalehti. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
^ abValtio hankki omistukseensa enemmistön arktisesta erityisosaajasta Aker Arcticista 2013-12-17 at the Wayback Machine. Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy, 17 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
^Company 2012-05-10 at the Wayback Machine. Aker Arctic. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
^Juurmaa, K et al.: New ice breaking tanker concept for the arctic (DAT) 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Kvaerner Masa-Yards Arctic Technology, 1995.
^Juurmaa, K et al.: The development of the new double acting ships for ice operation. Kvaerner Masa-Yards Arctic Technology, 2001 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine and 2002 2012-09-04 at the Wayback Machine.
^Evangelista, J. (2006): The First Arctic Tanker, Royal Belgian Institute of Marine Engineers.
^ abcdHistory 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine. Aker Arctic. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
^ abcdWilkman, Göran (2009), 40 years of ice model testing, Aker Arctic, Helsinki, Finland.
aker, arctic, technology, often, shortened, finnish, engineering, company, that, operates, model, test, basin, helsinki, addition, ship, model, testing, company, offers, various, design, engineering, consulting, services, related, icebreakers, other, icegoing,. Aker Arctic Technology Oy often shortened to Aker Arctic is a Finnish engineering company that operates an ice model test basin in Helsinki In addition to ship model testing the company offers various design engineering and consulting services related to icebreakers other icegoing vessels and arctic offshore projects as well as full scale trials field expeditions and training for icy conditions Formerly the arctic research centre of Wartsila and later Masa Yards Aker Arctic was established on 30 December 2004 as an independent company with Finnish Industry Investment Ltd ABB and Aker Solutions as its current shareholders Aker ArcticTypeOsakeyhtioFounded30 December 2004 18 years ago 2004 12 30 HeadquartersHelsinki FinlandKey peopleReko Antti Suojanen Managing director 1 ServicesShip designModel testingConsultingRevenue 7 543 000 2020 7 633 000 2019 2 Net income 444 000 2020 571 000 2019 2 OwnerFinnish Industry Investment 66 4 ABB 16 8 Aker Solutions 16 8 3 Number of employees49 12 2020 2 Websitewww akerarctic fiAker Arctic and its predecessors have designed more than half of the world s icebreakers 4 In addition the company is responsible for a number of recent inventions in the design of icegoing ships such as the double acting ship and oblique icebreaker concepts 5 6 History Edit Finnish icebreaker Polaris built in 2016 is based on Aker Arctic s Aker ARC 130 design The history of ice model testing in Finland began when Wartsila Icebreaking Model Basin WIMB was opened in a converted air raid shelter in Helsinki in 1969 The second ice test basin in the world preceded by and modeled after the 1955 built Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute in Leningrad Soviet Union was a result of co operation between Wartsila and Esso International initially created for developing the hull form of the icebreaking oil tanker SS Manhattan 7 Later Wartsila already an experienced and widely recognized builder of icebreaking ships utilized the 50 metre 160 ft test basin for its own projects at a time when Helsinki New Shipyard was continuously building new icebreakers 8 In the early 1980s a decision was made to construct a new model test facility above ground 9 Wartsila Arctic Research Centre WARC inaugurated in February 1983 was intended to become the leading ice model test facility in the world The model basin measuring 77 3 metres 254 ft in length utilized a new type of inhouse developed fine grained model ice which was later licensed to Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute KSRI in Russia and the ice model basin at the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland In the mid 1980s WARC also took over the responsibilities of Wartsila Arctic Design and Marketing WADAM a separate department which offered design and consultancy services to outside clients 8 In addition to inhouse R amp D and commercial projects the work carried out by WARC included basic research conducted by post graduate students and research for the Finnish government The work setup continued until the bankruptcy of Wartsila Marine in 1989 9 When Masa Yards took over the shipbuilding business of Wartsila in 1989 WARC became known as Masa Yards Arctic Research Centre MARC Although initially scientific projects gained high priority 8 from 1990 on the work was primarily commercial When Kvaerner the owner of Masa Yards since 1991 merged with its rival company Aker ASA and withdrew from the shipbuilding business in the early 2000s it was decided to establish a new company to separate the arctic research department from the turbulent shipbuilding business In addition as the land lease agreement was reaching its end a decision was made to construct a new model test facility elsewhere 8 9 Aker Arctic Technology Oy was established on 30 December 2004 with Kvaerner Masa Yards later STX Finland as its major shareholder and ABB Aker Kvaerner today Aker Solutions and Wartsila as minor shareholders 10 Wartsila later withdrew from the joint company and sold its shares to the other shareholders The construction of the new model test facility with a 75 metre 246 ft model basin began in Vuosaari near the old shipyard in 2005 and Aker Arctic moved to its current premises in February 2006 9 On 17 December 2013 the state owned holding company Finnish Industry Investment Ltd purchased 66 4 of Aker Arctic s shares from STX Finland which previously owned 71 4 of the company The remainder was divided equally between the minor shareholders ABB and Aker Solutions who both increased their share from 14 3 to 16 8 3 According to the Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori the company was acquired in order to prevent it from being sold to a foreign owner and as part of a funding arrangement for STX Finland 11 On 1 June 2015 Aker Arctic acquired full ownership of AKAC Inc 12 The Canada based company was established in 1984 by Arno Keinonen who had previously worked as the director of the Wartsila Icebreaking Model Basin 13 References Edit Aker Arctic saa uuden toimitusjohtajan Turun Sanomat 4 January 2014 Retrieved 2017 01 02 a b c Aker Arctic Technology Oy in Finnish Kauppalehti Retrieved 5 September 2021 a b Valtio hankki omistukseensa enemmiston arktisesta erityisosaajasta Aker Arcticista Archived 2013 12 17 at the Wayback Machine Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy 17 December 2013 Retrieved 2013 12 17 Company Archived 2012 05 10 at the Wayback Machine Aker Arctic Retrieved 2012 07 21 Juurmaa K et al New ice breaking tanker concept for the arctic DAT Archived 2012 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Kvaerner Masa Yards Arctic Technology 1995 Juurmaa K et al The development of the new double acting ships for ice operation Kvaerner Masa Yards Arctic Technology 2001 Archived 2012 03 03 at the Wayback Machine and 2002 Archived 2012 09 04 at the Wayback Machine Evangelista J 2006 The First Arctic Tanker Royal Belgian Institute of Marine Engineers a b c d History Archived 2012 03 25 at the Wayback Machine Aker Arctic Retrieved 2012 07 21 a b c d Wilkman Goran 2009 40 years of ice model testing Aker Arctic Helsinki Finland Aker Arctic DAS Merikotka permanent dead link Retrieved 2012 11 24 Vapaavuori Aker Arctic oli vaarassa siirtya ulkomaiseen omistukseen Ilta Sanomat 17 December 2013 Retrieved 2013 12 17 Aker Arctic osti kanadalaisen Akacin Talouselama 1 June 2015 Retrieved 2015 06 01 Akac Inc Retrieved 2015 06 01 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aker Arctic amp oldid 1101579046, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
