By bizn_fun 
Back in Finland, Helsinki Shipyard occupies a dock on the capital’s waterfront. It is where half of the world’s icebreakers have been made. Today owned by Canadian firm Davie, it also hopes to win new contracts from the US Coast Guard.
“The geopolitical situation has changed definitely,” says the shipyard’s managing director, Kim Salmi.
“We have our eastern neighbour here [Russia]. They are building their own [new] fleet. And the Chinese are building their fleet.”
He adds: “The US, Canada and the western allies in general, are looking for the power balance.”
Inside a cavernous shipbuilding hangar, workers cut and weld steel for the yard’s latest icebreaker, a heavy-duty Arctic vessel, called Polarmax that’s destined for the Canadian coastguard.
The Finns can build these complex vessels remarkably swiftly – it takes between two-and-a-half and three years – thanks to a streamlined production method, and decades of experience.
“Over 100 years, we have practised this,” says Artica’s Visuri. “You’ve got this cycle of designers, operators, builders. That’s why Finland is the superpower of icebreakers.”