- With an aim to carry out successful natural resources exploitation projects in the Polar Regions, STX Completed building the Ice Breaking Shuttle LNG Carrier and the Large Ice Breaking Container Carrier.

- In close technological collaboration with STX Europe, STX achieved the favorable outcome out of the first R&D collaboration in a global production network between Korea and Europe.  

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in technological cooperation with STX Europe has made a great success in constructing the Arctic Ice Breaking Shuttle LNG Carrier and the Large Ice Breaking Container Carrier, which is the first accomplishment of the mutual R&D work in the global production network. 

The Arctic Ice Breaking Shuttle LNG Carrier is designed suitable for navigating on the route linking the offshore plant producing LNG and the port located in the Polar Region. In particular, the carrier is equipped with the notable ice-breaking technology allowing its independent operation without the help of a special ice breaker for cracking 1.5-meter-thick ice. In addition, with the adoption of Double Acting System (DAS), the vessel boasts the outstanding operation performance through the ice sea, cracking ice and navigating in any directions both abaft and forward.

Meanwhile, recently undergoing natural resources exploitation project in Yamal, Russia, the world¡¯s largest natural gas reservoir, is expected to prompt huge demand for vessels equipped with advanced ice breaking technology in the years to come. In this regard, STX Offshore & Shipbuilding has thrown its energy into developing a new model of vessels optimal for the resources exploitation project, finally attaining the success.    

Currently, Polar Route has been spotlighted as the main sailing route between Asia and Europe. Against the backdrop, the large ice breaking container carrier has been newly developed by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.

With the installation of DAS and Hybrid Propulsion System, the ice breaking container carrier is characterized as the remarkable ice breaking technology allowing its independent operation through the Northern Sea Route as well as the high propulsion efficiency in the sea. 

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding and Aker Arctic Research Center (AARC), the subsidiary research center of STX Europe, have collaborated in a variety of steps such as design development and performance test for the past 24 months since early 2008, and finally accomplished the construction of Arctic Ice Breaking Shuttle LNG Carrier and Ice Breaking Container Carrier. Credited for obtaining the state-of-the-art technology in the research & development of Arctic Ice Breaking Shuttles, Helsinki-based AARC is a research center acquiring a number of original technology patents related to vessel¡¯s icebreaking technology.

STX eagerly anticipates that the latest success will lay the foundation for actively promoting the ice breaker project in the Polar Regions. In the meantime, starting with STX Europe¡¯s winning the order of 200 billion won worth of the polar supply and research vessel in 2009, STX has accelerated securing the sophisticated ice cracking technology through the global production network.

Vice Managing Director Choi Young-dal from Shipbuilding Research Institute of STX Offshore & Shipbuilding said, ¡°STX has dedicated itself to developing mega-sized high value-added vessels including 22,000 TEU containerships and 400,000 DWT class VLOCs in order to take an advantageous position in the future market.¡± And he added, ¡°With the construction of Arctic Ice Breaking Shuttle LNG Carrier and Ice Breaking container carrier served as a momentum, we are planning to step up our efforts to successfully develop an optimal model fit for resources exploitation by region.¡±

* Glossary
- Hybrid propulsion system: The system is capable of using both the pod propulsion system and the propeller propulsion system in turn according to the ocean conditions when navigating.
- Pod propulsion system: With the pod as a propeller attached at the external hull, the rotation of the propeller itself enables steering.