Tarpan (icebreaker)

The icebreaker was constructed and customized for the City of Szczecin by the Gdańsk Remontowa Shipbuilding Yard in the Tricity area, commissioned by Wody Polskie (Polish Waters) in Szczecin. A sister ship to Ocelot, whose godmother was Katarzyna Figlewicz, the vessel features a specially adapted hull designed for a shallow draft of 1.4 meters, ideal for navigating the variable riverbed of the Oder River.

These modern icebreakers are equipped with powerful diesel engines. Their wheelhouses can be hydraulically raised using a scissor-lift mechanism to ensure optimal visibility for the captain during icebreaking operations. When approaching a bridge, the wheelhouse, hydraulically retractable mast, and removable railings on the superstructure allow the crew to efficiently access ice jams.

Tarpan, along with its sister ship Ocelot, replaced the oldest and most worn-out vessels in the Szczecin fleet of Wody Polskie — the over 50-year-old Świstak and Ogar. The new icebreakers began operations on the Oder River alongside six other vessels: three lead icebreakers (Stanisław, Dzik, Odyniec) and three line icebreakers (Andrzej, Lis, Żbik).