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“Ymer”:
The first diesel-electric icebreaker in the world
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The revolutionary design of “Ymer” was
a breakthrough for diesel-electric powered icebreakers in the Baltic
Sea area.
ILLUSTRATION: HÅKAN SJÖSTRÖM
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When the Swedish icebreaker “Ymer” was delivered
in 1933 she was of such a radical design, that this concept was to act
as a model for several later icebreaker generations.
Diesel-electric machinery was installed in a seagoing icebreaker for the
first time in “Ymer”. In order to make the channel wider and
cleaner she had a beam of 18.6 m and a twin screw arrangement in the stern.
In addition to that, “Ymer” had one propeller in the bow.
Built in Sweden
The need for another government-owned icebreaker was actualised in Sweden
after the grounding of “Statsisbrytaren” outside Trelleborg
in 1929. When the project was launched, the Finnish Jääkarhu
was the model and three machinery alternatives were presented – steam,
diesel and diesel-electric. Despite the higher cost, the diesel-electric
alternative was chosen.
The
order was placed at Kockums in Malmö in July 1931 and after completion
the trials commenced in February 1933. Ice trials were carried out off
Gävle in March.
“Ymer”
had a displacement of 4,330 t fully loaded. The 9,000-hp diesel-electric
machinery gave her excellent performance and the design was trendsetting
for decades to come. Just a few years later the Finns built their first
diesel-electric icebreaker “Sisu”, following the “Ymer”-concept.
Long service record
After the delivery of “Ymer”, several mild winters followed.
She was, however, put to the test during the first three winters of World
War II, which were extremely cold. The icebreaking campaigns were not
ended until late spring or early summer.
In
the post-war years “Ymer” was Sweden’s most powerful icebreaker
until the delivery of “Oden” in 1957. At the end of the 1960’s
machinery problems became more and more frequent and “Ymer”
was finally mothballed in 1970. After that she still saw service during
three winters as reserve icebreaker.
In
1975, the port of Stockholm was interested in a long-term charter of “Ymer”.
After trials, this turned out to be too costly a project. “Ymer”
was sold for scrapping and ended her days at the Perssöner in Ystad
1976–77. The tale of one of the most significant Baltic Sea icebreakers
had come to an end.
//Pär-Henrik Sjöström
Sources:
Staffan Fischerström: Isbrytare
Blenner, Ohrelius: Isbrytare
Back to SSG 4, 21 February
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Latest update 18-10-2006 8:49
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2003