Finland, US, Canada to intensify icebreaker collaboration

President Alexander Stubb, his US counterpart Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau on Thursday issued a joint statement on icebreaker collaboration in Washington D.C., said the President Office in a press release.

In the joint statement, the three countries resolved to deepen their cooperation in the production of best-in-class icebreakers.

The countries will establish a partnership to encourage demand for icebreakers to be channelled to shipyards in the participating countries for the benefit of all parties.

The Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, allows Finland to contribute its Arctic expertise to transatlantic cooperation. Finland punches above its weight in the marine industry and especially in the field of equipment for ice conditions.

The partnership will provide new opportunities for business and industry. It will also open up the market for Finnish systems and components suppliers for ships to be built in the United States and Canada, as well as for shipyard modernisation.

The joint statement recognizes the importance of the Arctic region for the economy, climate and national security.

The partnership aims to uphold international rules and standards to sustain peace and stability in the Arctic region.

The initiative offers a new role for Finland in the North American critical infrastructure supply chain.

The icebreaker collaboration will further deepen Finland’s wide-ranging relations with two key allies and strategic partners.

The joint statement is financially and legally non-binding. Next, the partners will begin negotiations on an implementation plan to be drawn up over the next six months.

“The declaration gives Finland the opportunity to offer, in a very concrete way, top-class Arctic expertise to be used by our allies and partners. At the same time, we can effectively respond to the common critical needs in the Arctic region,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman in a press release issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on Thursday.

In Finland this work will take place under the lead of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and in cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence.

From the perspective of the geopolitical situation and strategic autonomy, it is important that Finland has a viable maritime industry cluster in future as well.

Finland’s NATO membership and the increased opportunities for international cooperation related to icebreakers and other special purpose ships this has brought along can significantly improve the operating conditions and growth of the Finnish maritime industry.

“The future of the Finnish shipyards mainly depends on the development of the cruise and other passenger ship markets. Because of the geopolitical situation, completely new opportunities could open for Finnish icebreaker expertise, where we are among the best in the world,” Rydman said.

Once the initiative is realised, the opportunities offered by the agreement to be negotiated can be substantial. The estimate for the need of the western allies and partner countries for the next decade is in the order of several tens of ice-class government vessels.

The building capacity of Finland’s maritime industry over the next decade is also estimated to be significant.