Owned and operated by the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA), Oden was built at the Arendal shipyard in Gothenburg and launched in 1989. Since then, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat has chartered it for various polar expeditions. The vessel is renowned for its efficient icebreaking capabilities, powered by a diesel-mechanical system comprising four engines that deliver a combined output of 24,500 hp. The icebreaker’s two 4.5-meter diameter propellers, equipped with nozzles, are specifically designed to handle the harsh ice conditions of polar oceans.