The first-ever domestically developed icebreaker has set sail for a two-month-long trial run.

The 6,950-ton Araon left Hanjin Heavy Industries' Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan Thursday morning with officials from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) on board.

Measuring 110 meters in length, 19 meters in width, the icebreaker is designed to carry out polar explorations. It can load over 60 kinds of advanced equipment including a helicopter, and accommodate a crew of up to 85 including researchers.

It can break one-meter-thick ice at a speed of three knots, and cruise 70 days, or a distance of up to 20-thousand nautical miles, without refueling.

After the test run, KOPRI will assign the Araon to a polar exploration mission for in-depth research into the Arctic and Antarc zones.