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Gdańsk gained two modern icebreakers
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Two modern icebreakers "Puma" and "Narwal" were officially admitted on Friday to the fleet of the Regional Water Management Board in Gdańsk. Units will support flood protection in the lower Vistula.
The two latest generations of icebreakers "Puma" and linear "Narwal" have already successfully tested during the icebreaking action conducted as part of winter flood protection during the 2020-2021 season.
The units were built by the Marine Repair Shipyard Gryfia SA in Szczecin as part of the project entitled "Building icebreakers for RZGW Gdańsk".
The project is designed, built and implemented for the service of four icebreakers: one leading ("Puma") and three linear ("Narwal", "Manat", "Nerpa"). The project also includes the preparation of the necessary infrastructure for new units within the Przegalina water node.
The project budget is PLN 74 million, of which 85 % is a subsidy from the European Union budget from the Cohesion Fund under the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020.
Other icebreakers "Manat" and "Nerpa" will arrive from Szczecin to RZGW Gdańsk this year.
The primary task of lead icebreakers is to break the ice of the gutter, allowing free flow of the lair. They are also used to break ice congestion and release bridge pillars and hydrotechnical structures from icing. The job of a linear icebreaker, on the other hand, is to expand the previously broken gutter, break large ice pans and ensure that they flow.
Polish waters in Gdańsk now have five icebreakers: the leading "Tiger" (1984) and the linear "Rekin" (1991), "Orka" (1991), "Foka" (1988) and "Żbik" (1989).
Within the limits of the operation of the RZGW in Gdańsk, there is a section of Vistula 257.5 km (from the mouth to the Włocławka area). The most important and sensitive point for the work of icebreakers is the mouth of the Vistula. The congestion in this place not only threatens the safety of the Vistula Żuławy, but also areas far further from the sea.
The corridor of the mouth of the Vistula must allow free flow of ice to the Gulf of Gdańsk throughout the winter. Breaking ice always starts with the mouth and follows up the river. This way of carrying out ice-breaking operations guarantees the free flow of lairs into the bay, prevents congestion and ensures the safety of the operation of the units participating in the action.
Source: PAP
