Innovation

Designed for solid and broken ice, the Sternmax deploys from a vessel stern to recover oil as the vessel advances through ice. As the ice-capable vessel crushes drifting ice, an isolation grate at the Sternmax intake pushes large pieces beneath the waterline, separating them from the oil-water mixture. The grate can be lifted and tilted to clear ice and debris, and tilt/tipping cylinders allow the operator to use the denser side of the screen to push blocks of ice down. Oil is captured by a brush wheel skimmer and transferred into a hopper via two Lamor GTA oil transfer pumps.

To maintain throughput and prevent icing (a common issue with any technology in arctic conditions), the Sternmax integrates winterization features: a hollow frame with steam inlets for pre-heating prior to deployment, and a hot-water injection line that keeps the screen, hopper, brush scraper, and pump warm while providing lubrication to support oil flow back to the vessel. According to Lamor, the whole system can be operated by a single person from the vessel, enhancing safety and efficiency while minimizing manpower.

The system is rated by the manufacturer with skimmer recovery capacity up to 560 m³/h (2,465 gpm) and is purpose-built for reliable, high-capacity recovery in harsh arctic conditions. By enabling oil recovery in arctic shipping channels, icy harbors, and other cold-weather areas where conventional skimming is challenged by ice, the system extends spill response capabilities into previously hard-to-serve environments.  

Lamor's Sternmax deployment in icey water.

Inspiration

Lamor, founded in Finland, has always had oil spill response technology for Arctic environments as a priority, as Finland is one of the only countries in the world where all harbors are icy at some point during the year. The origin story of Lamor’s arctic development started in 1991, with the first arctic-suitable oil recovery unit, the ice bow collector. Ever since the first innovation Lamor has continued to innovate new solutions and improve on their existing products to better fit arctic conditions, such as implementing unique heating functions, and shaping the whole market around arctic oil spill recovery by partaking in studies and collaborations to further advance the technology and our understanding of the environment, and the impact of oil spills in arctic environments.

The Sternmax specifically was inspired after testing the LOIS product, which was Lamor’s largest skimmer system for arctic conditions at the time. The LOIS had good potential but could not operate whilst moving or if the ice was chunky, which led to poor efficiency. From this failed product, Lamor had a major breakthrough “....because it was noted that that we cannot really process the ice anywhere else than behind the vessel where we have the propulsion to help with the ice, and from there we started to develop the Sternmax”. The Sternmax took the learnings of all Lamor’s arctic products at the time, and combined them into one holistic system, which would meet the standards and requirements needed to operate in arctic conditions. 

Overall impact

The innovation further opened the market of arctic oil spill response, being one of the most efficient and robust solutions on the market, which lead to world-wide media coverage and opportunities for Lamor. More importantly though, the continued innovation and success of new products furthered Lamor’s standing as front-runners in the oil spill response sector, building their reputation amongst other players in the field.

Extending effective spill response into arctic channels and icy ports helps protect marine and coastal ecosystems and community waters, reducing the likelihood that oil becomes trapped under ice or reaches sensitive shorelines. As climate change alters ice dynamics and increases traffic in high-latitude shipping corridors, Sternmax functions as a climate adaptation tool by strengthening response capacity in cold regions. Oil can get trapped under the ice for years, but with Sternmax that trapped oil can be collected.

This also opened new opportunities for other actors to operate in arctic conditions in a sustainable way, such as oil and gas companies and harbors, further developing the infrastructure and social sustainability in the arctic north. 

Business benefit

The Sternmax specifically is an important part of Lamor’s development, as it allows other companies to do business in the Arctic region sustainably. Because Lamor engineered a stern-mounted, arctic-dedicated skimmer with high rated capacity and one-person operation, the company can address response needs in ice-affected regions where conventional equipment underperforms. This specialization opened opportunities with coast guards, ice-class fleets, terminal operators, and agencies responsible for preparedness in arctic shipping corridors and icy ports.

Commercially, this creates pathways for equipment sales, commissioning, training, and lifecycle services (maintenance, parts, upgrades) tied to Arctic-readiness. It also strengthens customer relationships through readiness programs and integrated solutions across Lamor’s portfolio. As operators face stricter preparedness expectations in cold regions, specialized arctic capability positions Lamor to compete on performance and safety rather than price alone, supporting durable revenue and partnership growth.

Furthermore, worldwide coverage of the innovation leads to reputational growth within the field, garnering new investors, talent and partnerships in the upcoming years, for further developing arctic solutions. Arctic development has continued to be a strong part of Lamor’s identity, and still to this day Lamor is seen as front-runners in not only global oil spill response, but also as true experts in arctic-suitable technology innovations. 

Watch video on YouTube

Social and environmental benefit

The Sternmax is a one-of-a-kind system, which enables other actors to fulfill sustainability requirements in arctic conditions with one solution, allowing for more business opportunities in the arctic north. This has positive societal impact, boosting job opportunities and infrastructure development in the arctic north.

Furthermore, the Sternmax is still to this day one of the highest capacity skimmers suitable for arctic conditions out in the market and is being used year-round in some of the harshest conditions, to clean-up decade old oil spills, improving the arctic norths environment little by little every day.

Oil spills harm the societies around them too, and therefore preventative measures help aquatic ecosystems, but also on land. The clean-up efforts of the Sternmax and other Lamor’s products as well as their expertise guarantee that when a disaster occurs, the environment is harmed as little as possible and the effect on the surrounding society is minimized.

When asked to look 10-20 years forward, the main goal of Lamor is to continue innovating and improving solutions that could prevent oil spills in the first place, not just combating them. When Rune was asked what he is especially proud of with Lamor, he answered: “The people behind it. Doing development projects like the Sternmax that culminate decades worth of experience and testing into one solution requires immense talent, teamwork, and following the same mission.” 

Interview

Rune Högström, Consultant