Overview Winmos IV

WINMOS IV aims to ensure safe, reliable and sustainable winter navigation in the Baltic Sea by strengthening year-round maritime transport between European countries. The project improves cross-border short-sea shipping by upgrading five Swedish icebreakers and constructing a new Finnish icebreaker.

Sea ice is a major challenge for winter navigation in the northern Baltic Sea. By modernising the icebreaker fleet, WINMOS IV helps keep key shipping routes open throughout the winter, supporting trade, supply chains and regional connectivity.

The project includes the construction of a new Finnish icebreaker to replace a vessel that is more than 70 years old, along with extensive upgrades to five Swedish icebreakers.

The new vessel is designed to operate on future green fuels, supporting the transition towards a more sustainable and carbon-neutral icebreaker fleet. The upgrades will also improve the efficiency, reliability and operational performance of the existing vessels.

WINMOS IV strengthens maritime transport links serving several TEN-T core and comprehensive ports across the Baltic Sea. The project supports the European Transport Corridors by ensuring reliable, year-round access to Finland and Sweden.

It also contributes to broader European objectives by:

• strengthening the resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change
• supporting military mobility and security of supply
• reducing the environmental impact of maritime transport
• improving energy efficiency and contributing to the EU’s climate neutrality goals for 2050. 

WINMOS IV builds on decades of cooperation between Finland, Sweden and Estonia to improve winter navigation in the Baltic Sea. Together, the countries are strengthening the resilience of maritime transport and safeguarding critical supply chains during the winter season.

The project is delivered by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA) and the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA). Previous WINMOS projects have also received co-funding from the European Union.