HDMS ''Danbjørn'' (sometimes referred to as ''Danbjoern'') was a
Danish icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters, and provide safe waterways for other boats and ships. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller ...
built for breaking and reporting ice in the sea for Danish Ice Service in 1965. Originally operated by the Ministry of Industrial Affairs, it was incorporated into the
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy (, ) is the Naval warfare, sea-based branch of the Danish Armed Forces force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Denmark, Danish territorial waters (incl. Faroe Islands and ...
on January 1, 1996. ''Danbjørn'' was crewed by naval personnel throughout its history.
The ship's mission was to assist shipping to and from Danish ports among these the most important supply and export ports, during ice conditions in the Danish waters within the Skaw. The shipping was assisted as close as possible to their port of destination where the remaining icebreaking is taken over by the port’s own icebreaking resources. Assistance is given according to the following priority:
* Ships in distress.
* Ships transporting live animals.
* Ships transporting passengers.
* Ships transporting cargoes of special importance.
* All ships in need.
The action from ''Danbjørn'' was seen each winter from December 15 to March 31, along with ''Isbjørn''.
The icebreaker was sold for scrap in 2023 after a long lay-up. The icebreaker was previously used in Danish waters in the winter of 1995–1996 and in Swedish waters in 2006.
Sources
Specification as on Navy SiteNavy Ice ServiceIce Breaking AssistanceIce Breaking Service
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danbjorn (A551)
1965 ships
Icebreakers
Ships of the Royal Danish Navy