Icebreaker

Reproduced with permission of Lloyd's Register

A ship designed to break a passage in ice through which other ships may pass. This it achieves by having a bow specifically designed to ride up onto the ice on the upward pitch, and break it on the downward pitch. Another requisite is a large propulsive power.

Various features may include:

a towing winch
arrangements for use as an offshore supply ship
arrangements for tending lighthouses and buoys
laboratories and accomodation for various research purposes
the use of the accomodation for fare-paying passengers

All of these features may be used simultaneously with the icebreaking facility. Alternatively, the ship may operate on a seasonal basis.

A ship (of a different type, eg. a tanker) which may break a passage sufficient only a navigation by itself is defined as "icebreaking".

back to the home page