New Danish icebreaker debate | Global Maritime Social Network

New Danish icebreaker debate

Written by TVT Marine Thursday, 14 January 2010 03:40

The cold weather in Denmark and the fact that the fleet of icebreakers have a five-day readiness period has fuelled the debate on the governmental icebreaker service, which is paid by the Danish ports and their costumers.

The Association of Danish Ports has again raised their voice, claiming that it is unfair to pay an annual fee of DKK 20 million to keep the three old icebreakers ready for service when there is no need for the icebreakers anymore.

“All ships in service nowadays are well powered and don’t need any ice breaker service”, says Tom Elmer Christensen, Head of Division at the Association of Danish Ports.

“And if the water freezes, the cargo owners fix ice class tonnage capable of sailing without icebreaker service”, he adds.

Since the last ice campaign in Danish waters (that was in 1996), the icebreaker service has accumulated some DKK 120 million of fees from Danish ports.

The three icebreakers the Danbjørn (built 1965), the Isbjørn (built 1966) and the Thorbjørn (built 1980) are managed by the Danish Navy.

Source: Shipgaz.com