The expedition cruise vessel Hanseatic Spirit, operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, encountered heavy sea ice while navigating off the coast of Kemi (Finland).
The ship, carrying over 200 passengers, required icebreaker assistance after becoming immobilized in ice exceeding its operational limits.
Designed with a PC6 ice-class rating, Hanseatic Spirit is built to navigate ice up to 70 cm thick. However, it encountered ice formations reaching up to 3 meters in thickness in the Bothnian Bay, where temperatures had fallen to -5°C (23°F). These conditions necessitated external support to proceed with the itinerary.
Captain Claas Fischer informed passengers of the situation and confirmed that the icebreaker Kontio had been deployed to assist. The 20,000-horsepower vessel worked to clear a navigable channel, securing a steel towline to the cruise ship. However, the severity of the ice required additional reinforcement. Subsequently, the 25,800-horsepower icebreaker Polaris was dispatched to complete the passage.
Finland’s icebreaking fleet, among the most advanced globally, routinely assists vessels transiting the frozen waters of the Baltic region.
With the icebreaker's support, Hanseatic Spirit was able to resume its course toward Rauma by Monday, ensuring minimal disruption to her two-week Lapland expedition. The voyage remains on schedule, with a planned arrival at Hamburg’s Cruise Terminal Altona on Saturday.
During the delay, onboard programming continued uninterrupted. General Expedition Manager Sascha Richter and his team provided lectures on polar navigation, climate conditions, and Arctic exploration, offering passengers insights into the dynamic and challenging nature of high-latitude maritime operations.
For more Hanseatic Spirit incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.