Icebreaker assists with oil spill clean-up in the Baltic Sea

Earlier this year, the Swedish Government tasked the Swedish Maritime Administration with participating in the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (EMSA) procurement of vessel resources for offshore oil spill response. At the beginning of the summer, the Swedish Maritime Administration won the procurement and signed a contract with EMSA to use oil spill response equipment on Idun for the duration of the contract.

— We are pleased that our icebreaker will also become a resource for oil spill response. When the same vessel can break ice in winter and respond to spills all year round, we maximise the benefit to society and the use of resources. This strengthens preparedness in the Baltic Sea, says Albert Hagander, Technical Director of the Swedish Maritime Administration’s shipping company.

The Swedish Maritime Administration acquired Idun in 2024. The icebreaker’s previous use makes her particularly well suited to the task.

— Idun has previously served in offshore industrial operations and is already equipped with tanks for collecting spilled oil and contaminated water. This makes her particularly well suited to assisting with oil spill clean-up, not least in waters that are periodically fully or partially covered by ice, says Albert Hagander, Technical Director of the Swedish Maritime Administration’s shipping company.

The Swedish Coast Guard is responsible for leading oil spill response operations in the Baltic Sea and will notify the Swedish Maritime Administration when Idun is required for an operation. Idun must be available for oil spill response operations in the northern Baltic Sea and the Bay of Bothnia within 24 hours. The vessel must also be able to assist with clean-up operations in other parts of the Baltic Sea.

The assignment will run for 32 months from the time Idun is fully equipped and ready for service. It may then be extended for a further three years.