In the middle of the frozen Baltic Sea, the expedition ship "Hanseatic spirit" was stuck. The ship, which was specially designed for polar regions and owned by Hamburg-based shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, got stuck in metres of ice and had to rely on the support of an icebreaker.
Map of the Baltic Sea with the route of the "Hanseatic spirit". Graphic: Google/kreuzfahrten.de
The 138 metre long "Hanseatic spirit" was already struggling with difficulties when it left the Finnish port of Kemi. A few nautical miles later, it was finally over. "We are now waiting for the KONTIO," the captain informed the passengers. The icebreaker with 20,000 hp was supposed to pull the ship with a steel cable through the icy Bothnian Bay - the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland.
Icebreakers reach their limits
The conditions were extreme: temperatures at sea were around minus five degrees Celsius, the ice was over two metres thick and reached as far as the horizon. Even the most modern technology is no longer sufficient under these conditions. In such cases, Finnish or Swedish icebreakers are deployed. This is always a challenge for the crew of the cruise ship - and a special experience for the passengers.
Icebreaker "Kontio" with limit. Picture: Facebook/Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Spectacular rescue operation
After the arrival of the "Kontio" and the connection with the expedition ship, the icebreaker towed the "Hanseatic spirit" as far as possible through the ice. But even the "Kontio" eventually reached its limits - and reinforcements were called in: The "Polaris", the most modern and powerful Finnish icebreaker, took over the rescue. With 25,800 hp and a length of 110 metres, it made its way through the ice together with the cruise ship. In the end, the "Hanseatic spirit" was able to continue its journey under its own power.
Background: A strong fleet for winter use
Finland has one of the strongest icebreaker fleets in the world. Eight specialised ships ensure that important shipping routes remain open even in winter and that frozen ships can be freed. They are a central component of the maritime precautionary system.
Icebreaker "Polaris" frees the "Hanseatic spirit". Picture: Facebook/Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises designates its cruise ships for use in polar regions as expedition class. The three ships "HANSEATIC nature", "HANSEATIC inspiration" and "HANSEATIC spirit" have the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC 6). According to the shipping company, they can safely pass through ice sheets of up to 90 centimetres.
kdk, t-online
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