Finland is considering moving part of its icebreaker fleet from the south of the country to the north to reduce the risk of potential Russian attacks.
According to Yle, the northern ports of Oulu and Kemi are among the possible locations.
Currently, the icebreakers are based in the Helsinki port of Katajanokka, which is relatively close to Russia.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has served as a cautionary example for Finland in terms of defense readiness and critical infrastructure protection.
One of the areas of discussion is the decentralization of icebreaker bases.
Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Luulu Ranne said that the ministry is preparing an investment program for the national icebreaker fleet.
At the same time, the possibilities for reforming the organization of icebreaking operations are being analyzed.
“The decentralization of icebreakers is only a small part of this complex issue, but it is also being considered. No final decisions have been made in this context yet,” Ranne said.
Markku Rautio, CEO of the Port of Kemi, also points to the advantages of decentralizing the icebreaker fleet.
“When it comes to readiness regimes, it is logical to take into account the lessons learned from Ukraine. Currently, icebreakers are concentrated in Helsinki — virtually all together and under the potential threat of a single Iskander missile,” Rautio said.
Kemi Mayor Matti Ruotsalainen sees no obstacles to the city becoming a base port for icebreakers.
According to him, the key factor is a change in approaches to planning and safety.
At the same time, keeping icebreakers in a state of constant readiness requires significant resources and regular maintenance, but so far there have been no problems that could not be solved within reasonable limits.
Moving icebreakers north is not considered a quick process. Oulu Mayor Ari Alatosava noted that the project cannot be implemented before 2030, as the decision requires political approval.
Additional time will also be needed to build the necessary facilities and technical infrastructure.
