24.6.2025
Against the background of rising geopolitical tensions and climate change, Sweden’s existing icebreaker fleet is nearing the end of its technical lifespan. Yet, icebreaking is critical for Sweden’s base industries and the growth of its new industrial initiatives. In a new report, leading voices in the country’s base industries and business regions reliant on icebreaking are raising an alarm: Sweden’s icebreaker fleet must be urgently modernized to safeguard reliable year-round maritime transport, economic growth and industrial competitiveness. The report underscores a clear risk: without swift action, Sweden may find itself at the back of the global queue for new icebreaker construction.
Featuring interviews with representatives from Swedish industry, the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA), academia and Helsinki Shipyard, a global leader in icebreaker design and construction, the report “Sweden needs more new icebreakers – now” is the first publication on icebreakers in recent memory that lifts these industry voices and the agency responsible for icebreakers – the Swedish Maritime Administration – in one place.
The report outlines the factors contributing to the current global demand for icebreakers, Sweden’s icebreaker needs through a series of interviews with industry representatives and the SMA, the technical capabilities of a modern icebreaker fleet, and how a significant maritime investment could be paid for through alternative financing methods. The report was commissioned by Davie, a global leader in shipbuilding and design, with a presence in Canada and Finland.
“Icebreaking is no longer just a regional logistics issue – it has become a strategic national function tied to growth, resilience and sovereignty,” said James Davies, CEO of Davie. “Our report, the first in several years on the icebreaker issue that compiles important voices from Swedish business, the responsible government authority, and Finnish shipbuilders, shows that a long-term, coordinated national icebreaker strategy is needed to ensure Sweden’s economic competitiveness against the background of unprecedented global demand.”
The full report in Swedish is available here: Sverige behover fler nya isbrytare nu and will be discussed at Davie’s seminar in Almedalen 2025 in Visby, Gotland, Sweden. The seminar, entitled “Why Sweden Needs New Icebreakers Now”, will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 16.15-17.45 at Wisby Strand, Donnersgatan 2 / Strandvägen 4. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact:
Antti Leino
Director of Public Affairs, Group Davie