Northern Sea Route Reconnaissance Study
A Summary of Icebreaking Technology
DEVINDER S. SODHI
stopped, plans are being discussed for develop-
INTRODUCTION
ments in the offshore areas of the Russian Arctic
In the last four to five decades, many develop-
to produce hydrocarbon resources and to trans-
ments in icebreaking technology have taken place
port them to world markets. Future shipments of
through the application of modern marine tech-
these resources will have significant effects on the
nology to the design and the operation of polar
development of the Northern Sea Route.
ships. Innovative ideas have been implemented to
From the perspectives of a master mariner, the
improve the propulsion systems and to reduce the
performance of icebreakers depends on the con-
resistance encountered during icebreaking. Present
struction limitations of the vessels and the skills
navigation and information systems (e.g., ice maps,
in ice navigation of their captains (Toomey 1994).
satellite images, etc.) aboard polar ships enable
Although the technological improvements incor-
navigators to identify ice features along the tran-
porated in the design and construction of an ice-
sit route in near real time and to chart a tactical
breaker help to increase its performance in ice, it
course. As a result of this, it is possible to travel by
is essential to have a skilled captain and crew op-
ships to remote polar regions that were thought to
erating the ship to exploit these advantages to the
be unreachable only a few years ago. Many na-
maximum extent. Therefore, the training and the
tions have contributed to this development by de-
experience of the crew operating an icebreaker are
signing and building polar ships and by launch-
important elements in its performance. A knowl-
ing voyages to various regions of the Arctic and
edgeable, skilled captain, supported by extensive
the Antarctic. Some of the landmark voyages dur-
information, can prevent or quickly overcome
ing the last four decades are listed in Table 1
many difficulties along a route.
(Brigham 1992). Recently, Russian nuclear-pow-
ered icebreakers have regularly traveled to the
Early history
North Pole. In August of 1994, the U.S. icebreaker
Johansson et al. (1994) have given an account of
Polar Sea, the Canadian icebreaker Louis S. St.
the early history of icebreaking ships. Breaking ice
Laurent and the Russian nuclear icebreaker Yamal
with ships was not possible before the advent of
(App. A) met at the North Pole (Fig. 1).
steam power. One of the earliest icebreakers,
The impetus behind these technological ad-
named Norwich, was introduced in 1836 on the
vances has come from:
Hudson River. She had paddle wheels for propul-
1. The exploration for natural resources around
sion and was very effective in breaking ice, remain-
the Arctic Basin.
ing in service for 87 years.
2. The development of the Northern Sea Route
By the end of the nineteenth century, only fixed-
by the former Soviet Union, as an integral
pitch, screw-type propellers driven with steam
part of development of the entire Russian
power were installed on new icebreakers. Early
Arctic.
icebreakers were not powerful, and the hull form
3. The need for multi-mission ships for the
was basically adapted from open water hull shapes
transportation of personnel, logistics and
by sloping the bow angles more to create a verti-
marine research in the Antarctic.
cal force to break the ice in bending. Many inno-
Although exploration for hydrocarbon re-
vative designs were proposed and built to increase
sources in the southern Beaufort Sea has almost
icebreaking efficiency. For instance, the highly suc-
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