Finland is currently in advanced talks with the United States over the Fennica icebreaker for sale, a veteran vessel built in 1993 with a proven record in Arctic and offshore operations.
The Finnish-built ship has long served in demanding winter conditions and oil industry missions abroad. While nothing is signed yet, government-level negotiations are underway, and both sides appear committed to reaching a deal.
This discussion runs alongside a separate US interest in commissioning two brand-new icebreakers from Finnish shipyards. Though happening at the same time, that order is being negotiated independently.
Former US President Donald Trump confirmed in The Hague on Wednesday that talks are ongoing. In an interview with Ilta-Sanomat, he said, “We are talking about buying one used icebreaker from Finland.”
The Fennica is no ordinary vessel. Built to operate in freezing seas, it has worked winters in Finland and summers in offshore energy zones. It was once leased for work in Alaska and has more recently operated in Canadian waters. It is currently stationed in Kotka beside its sister ship, the Nordica.
Maintaining Fennica is not cheap. It was designed as a multipurpose prototype for future vessels, making it complex and high-maintenance. The Nordica followed a year later in 1994 as an improved version.
Sources close to the negotiations say the deal is being designed to allow Finland to replace the vessel with a new one if the sale goes through. One condition on Finland’s side is that the agreement cannot affect the country’s ability to keep northern ports open during deep winter months.
Reko-Antti Suojanen, counsellor at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, confirmed that talks are underway. While he avoided naming the vessel, he clearly ruled out Finland’s newest icebreaker, Polaris.
“There are several options on the table, and the overall picture is complex,” Suojanen said.
Any final agreement would likely involve a North American public agency and Finnish shipbuilders, not the Finnish government directly. In the United States, the purchase would need approval from Congress. It would also depend on federal budget timing and allocation.
The size of the deal and its foreign origin make it politically sensitive in Washington. Though it may take time, the fact that negotiations are still active shows there is serious intent on both sides.
