The icebreaker Krisjanis Valdemars was the pride of the Republic of Latvia's fleet in 1920s and 1930s. She was utilized to free the Riga port from ice in winter and to escort state visits.

The ship was built by two British companies, William Beardmore and Vickers, in Glasgow from 1924 to 1925. Her carrying capacity was 1 932 gross register tons, length 60 metres, width 17 metres, draught 6.7 metres and power 5 200 HP. The ship's maximum speed was 14.4 nautical miles in ice-free water, and 3 nautical miles in water covered with hard and smooth ice. The new icebreaker was entered in the registers of the Latvian fleet, and was named after Krisjanis Valdemars (1825-1891), the man who established the first naval colleges and promoted shipbuilding in Latvia. The Krisjanis Valdemars set on her maiden voyage on January 13, 1926. The ship was the property of the Navigation Department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and was registered at the Riga port. Her first captain was Karlis Cerps (1875-1931), under whose command she remained until his death. He was succeeded by Fricis Veidners (1883-1942), from 1931 to 1940, and Peteris Mauritis (1887-?), from 1940 to 1941.

Soon after the occupation of Latvia, the ship was nationalized, and during World War II, she was evacuated to Tallinn together with merchant ships. At the end of August 1941, the icebreaker sailed from Tallinn to Kronstadt, and on August 28, she struck a mine and perished.

Soon after the occupation of Latvia, the ship was nationalized, and during the Second World War, she was evacuated to Tallinn together with merchant ships. At the end of August 1941, the icebreaker sailed from Tallinn to Kronstadt, and on August 28, she struck a mine and perished.