Safe access on ice: the hydrocopter

In Estonia, increasingly unstable ice conditions and harsh winter environments pose serious safety risks for fishers, rescue teams and border authorities. Traditional boats and snowmobiles are often unable to operate safely or reliably on shifting ice, ridged surfaces and mixed water–ice zones, limiting access to remote coastal and lake areas.

To address this challenge, Raio Piiroja, a local fisher who had experienced these risks first hand, developed the hydrocopter, an amphibious, air-propelled vessel designed to move across water, ice and marshland. Evolving from early prototypes into a standardised EU-supported product, it combines a reinforced hull with a powerful rear propeller for high-speed, low-maintenance operation. Now produced by a small specialised team, it is used by fishers, rescue services and border guards, offering a safer, faster and more versatile solution for extreme conditions.