Norway Reaches the North Pole
KV Svalbard is the Royal Norwegian Navy’s only icebreaker and one of the most capable vessels to operate in Arctic waters. Built at Vard Langsten and delivered in 2002, she was purpose-designed for the most demanding polar operations, carrying DNV’s POLAR-10 Icebreaker notation, an ice-strengthened hull and full deicing systems.
Engineered to break through one metre of solid ice and over four metres of pressure-ridged ice, KV Svalbard secures Norway’s presence and authority across its northernmost waters.
Key Facts
Supporting Safe and Uninterrupted Operations
At the core of KV Svalbard’s performance are four Bergen BRG-8 engines, delivering the reliable power needed for the diesel-electric propulsion and twin 5MW ABB Azipods. These engines are built to maintain performance in extreme cold, operating with stability, fuel efficiency and rapid load response even as temperatures fall well below freezing.
This reliability is what allows KV Svalbard to push deeper into the ice, maintain continuous power, and keep vital ship systems running during long, harsh deployments. In the Arctic, where mission delays can quickly escalate into safety risks, Bergen’s engine performance supports safe, uninterrupted operations.
Reaching the North Pole: A Historic First for Norway
In August 2019, KV Svalbard became the first Norwegian ship in history to reach the North Pole. The milestone came during a high-priority scientific mission for the Nansen Centre, deploying acoustic instruments in the Arctic Ocean to support international climate research.
The achievement proved the vessel’s world-leading icebreaking capability and the exceptional resilience of its Bergen-powered propulsion system. Reaching 90°N required constant thrust through dense, shifting ice, long endurance in extreme conditions and complete mechanical reliability.
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