The oblique icebreaker concept emerged from an internal innovation contest in the mid-1990s. At that time, new oil terminals were planned for the Gulf of Finland, and it was anticipated that Aframax-sized tankers with a beam of more than 40 metres would become the standard for oil transport in the region. Due to their wide beam, escorting such tankers would require at least two traditional icebreakers, unless a new solution could be found. Read the full article here.