The construction project for the next-generation icebreaker research vessel, which will explore the Arctic and Antarctic alongside the icebreaker research vessel Araon, is back on track. Due to insufficient budget allocated for the vessel's construction, there were no bids submitted, but following adjustments to the total project cost, an additional 57.1 billion won has been allocated. The Korea Polar Research Institute, which is responsible for the project, noted that several shipbuilders have shown interest in participating, indicating a green light for the ship construction.
According to government departments and the science and technology sector on the 21st, the Ministry of Economy and Finance recently finalized the total project cost for the next-generation icebreaker research vessel construction project at 317.6 billion won, an increase of 57.1 billion won from the previous amount of 260.5 billion won. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Institute of Oceans and Fisheries were involved in approving the budget adjustment results confirmed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance at a committee meeting on the construction project held on the 20th.
The research equipment budget review by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the construction project committee at the Korea Polar Research Institute, scheduled for April, remain. However, with the budget issue, which was the biggest obstacle to project advancement, resolved, the project is expected to proceed smoothly. A Korea Polar Research Institute official said, "We intend to open bidding in May."
The next-generation icebreaker research vessel is designed to have a displacement of 16,560 tons, which is double that of the existing Araon, which has a displacement of 7,507 tons. It can use both low-sulfur diesel and liquefied natural gas, enabling environmentally friendly operation. While Araon could break through 1-meter thick ice, the next-generation icebreaker is designed to break through ice as thick as 1.5 meters.
Originally, the next-generation icebreaker research vessel was scheduled to be launched in 2027. South Korea built its first icebreaker, Araon, in 2009, establishing its capability for independent research in the Arctic and Antarctic, but it was challenging to manage explorations in both the Antarctic and Arctic with just one icebreaker. After more than 15 years since Araon's construction, there are voices calling for a new icebreaker.
Since 2016, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has applied for a preliminary feasibility study for the next-generation icebreaker research vessel construction project. Projects that require over 50 billion won in government funding must be evaluated for economic feasibility through the preliminary feasibility study. The icebreaker research vessel project passed the preliminary feasibility study in 2022 after two disqualifications. A total of 277.4 billion won was allocated to the project, of which about 220 billion won was designated for vessel construction.
However, when the bidding actually started, not a single shipbuilder participated in the five rounds of bidding. With rising prices, the costs of ship construction also increased, leading to the conclusion that the allocated budget would not suffice to construct the next-generation icebreaker proposed by the government. Since last October, the government has initiated reevaluations of construction costs to adjust the total project cost. After a four-month review, the decision to increase the budget by 57.1 billion won was made.
If the budget is increased within 15% of the total project cost, it does not need to undergo another preliminary feasibility study. The government explained that the additional budget was aligned with this limit. A government official stated, "In addition to the 15% limit, the increases due to inflation and the results of cost verification can also be reflected in the increased budget," and added that, "Efforts were made to adjust the total project cost to ensure that the project can proceed normally."
With the Trump administration taking office in the U.S., the importance of polar exploration is growing, which is a positive signal for the next-generation icebreaker research vessel project. President Trump has shown interest in the polar regions, advocating for the annexation of Greenland and closely managing the Alaska gas development project. Polar exploration requires icebreakers. The U.S., which has a declining shipbuilding capacity, is reported to be planning to collaborate with South Korea to secure icebreakers. The next-generation icebreaker research vessel could serve as a good example of showcasing the icebreaker construction capabilities of domestic shipbuilders to the U.S.
A Korea Polar Research Institute official noted, "As there have been many news reports about significant interest in domestic icebreakers in the U.S., domestic shipbuilders are also showing greater interest in the icebreaker research vessel project," adding that, "Since a sufficient scale of budget increase has been achieved, the atmosphere is different from last year's unsuccessful bidding."