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Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation is planning to utilize the iron deposits on the northern Baffin Island (Canada). The iron ore was discovered in the beginning of 1960ies. The mine is 100-142km from the sea shore (Milne Inlet or Steensby Inlet). The sea area from Milne Inlet and Steensby Inlet to North Atlantic is most of the year ice covered. Open water period may be only three months, from July to October. The operation is planned to be year-round. The amount of iron ore to be transported in the beginning of the production in 2014 is c. 18 million tonnes/year. The ore carriers are to be operated independently without icebreaker assistance. The ore carriers are assumed to operate at full draught both in loaded and ballast condition when operating in ice. The ship size was selected to be of main dimensions as a Dunkirkmax/Capesize vessel. There are two basic ore carrier alternative designs; The first alternative is conventional icebreaking vessel, which mainly operates by breaking ice with the bow. The second alternative is the so called Double Acting Ship (DAS). In the DAS concept the vessel is designed to operate bow first most of the time, in open water and in light ice conditions, but in severe ice conditions running astern. This paper describes the design process of the vessels including the basic requirements, operational conditions, transit simulations, model tests and the vessel designs.