The icebreaker Aiviq was built for oil work in the Arctic but has design issues. Its maiden voyage to Alaska ended in a rescue at sea and a Coast Guard investigation.
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TheicebreakerAiviqisagasguzzlerwithatroubledhistory.TheshipwasbuilttooperateintheArctic,butithasatypeofpropulsionsystemsusceptibletofailureinice.Itswasteanddischargesystemsweren’tdesignedtomeetpolarcode,itshelicopterpadisinthewrongplacetolaunchrescueoperationsanditsreardeckiseasilyswampedbybigwaves.
OnitsmaidenvoyagetoAlaskain2012,the360-footvessellostcontroloftheShellOildrillrigitwastowing,andCoastGuardhelicoptercrewsbravedastormtopluck18menoffthewildlylurchingdeckoftherigbeforeitcrashedintoarockybeach.AneventualCoastGuardinvestigationfaultedbaddecision-makingbypeopleinchargebutalsoflaggedproblemswiththeAiviq’sdesign.
Butforallthis,thesameCoastGuardboughttheAiviqfor$
