According to the Act on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (936/2018) one of the tasks of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA) is securing winter navigation to Finnish ports. According to the Act on Ice Classes of Ships and Icebreaker Assistance (1121/2005) FTIA is responsible for procuring icebreaking services for the whole of Finland in accordance with the act 1397/2016 considering public procurement.

FTIA has eight contracts concerning icebreaking with service providers that will end before the start of the 2025-2026 icebreaking season. Finland and Sweden have a treaty concerning icebreaking according to which Finland must have four class A icebreakers and one class B icebreaker available for icebreaking in the Gulf of Bothnia and Sea of Åland. Icebreaking capacity additional to the treaty obligations is needed to ensure a proper service level for the whole Finnish sea area.

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency calls for tenders for three-year contract periods seven class A icebreakers, two class B icebreakers and one class C icebreaker. A separate call for tenders is published for each icebreaker class. The contracts will include an option period of one, two or three years. More contracts may be tendered during the contract period that may affect the rate at which single icebreakers are put into operations. This procurement includes two class B icebreakers.

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency procures icebreaking service with two class B icebreakers for a period of 1 October 2025 to 15 June 2028. The contract will also include an option period of one, two or three years usable by the Customer with notification at latest 12 months before the end of the contract period.

The readiness period for the icebreakers included in the agreement is 15 November to 31 May.

The Customer will place icebreakers into operations during the readiness period according to the need for icebreaking capacity.

It is possible to place a tender for one or two class B icebreakers.