Icebreakers

Here, you'll find an extensive list of icebreakers (icebreaker ships) operating in the regions of Antarctica (South America and Australia) and the Arctic Ocean - Russia (Asia and Europe), and North America (Canada and the USA).

The world's largest icebreaker shipowners (with the largest fleets) are countries with large ice-covered territories (Russia, USA, and Canada), followed by Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Most icebreaking vessels are government-owned, but some are privately-owned (commercially used) ships. Some are nuclear-powered (all Russian-built), with the majority being diesel-powered. Icebreaking vessel types also include Russia's new Yamal LNG carriers and oil tankers.

Icebreakers are special-purpose (assisting or research) marine vessels. Some operate on rivers, but most are ocean-going ships able to move and navigate easily through ice-covered seas. Icebreaker ships are mainly used to provide safe passage for other ships (cargo, fishing, or riverboats). There are also smaller icebreaker boats and tugboats used on inland waterways (rivers and canals).

Note: The above and below computer-generated images represent the new-design Finnish icebreaking ships with ABB Azipod propulsion (total power output 19 MW / 25,000 hp). The first of them (Polaris) was launched in April 2016.

Often, icebreakers are used to free icebound ships or to tow vessels in distress. Some icebreakers are also used for polar research expeditions in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. Even South Africa has such "heavy-duty" ships for carrying out scientific studies there.

Today's Arctic offshore drilling operations also require icebreaking vessels to supply drilling sites with cargo and technical equipment, and also to protect the drilling ships and oil (gas) platforms from the ice (including from icebergs).

Icebreaker Ship Design

The icebreaker's design includes the following prominent features:

1. Ice-strengthened hull: Since sea ice's bending (flexural) strength is low, it usually breaks easily and submerges under the hull. When the ice is thick, the ship drives its bow onto it, and the vessel's weight is used to break it. The hull is made from steels that retain their strength at low temperatures. Additionally, the hull is reinforced (constructed with thicker steels) at the bow (fore), the stern (aft), and the "ice belt" at the waterline (where the hull meets the water surface). The hull is double and painted with special polymer paints for low friction with the ice.
2. Ice-clearing shape: Broken ice buildup in front of the icebreaker can significantly slow it down. To prevent buildups, the ship's design features a special hull shape to move the broken ice around the vessel. The hull is gradually sloped at the ship's bow, allowing it to ride up over the ice, so the vessel's weight can break it.
3. Heavy (more DWT tonnage) for their size (for more effective icebreaking).
4. High-output power engines: The vessel's navigation and propulsion systems have some external units (like propellers, shafts, rudders, etc.) that can be damaged by broken ice. This makes the ship's ability to propel itself quickly and to effectively clear the ice debris from its path an essential safety issue. The extra power comes from gas turbines or nuclear reactors of the world's largest (Russian) icebreakers.
5. Air-bubbling and heated water-jet systems: Below the waterline, heated water is jetted to help break the ice, and high-pressure air is used to move the debris out of the way.
6. Special water ballast system: This allows the ships to rapidly move large amounts of their ballast water, easily shifting weight when needed for ice-breaking.
7. Propulsion system: When the ship is in motion, its rudder and propellers are protected from the ice by the so-called "ice horn" (when in reverse) and "ice knife" (when going forward). If the propeller hits the ice, it won't stop the engine. Additionally, the propellers are made extra strong and with replaceable blades that can be easily changed at sea. Powerful thrusters help with navigation in tight, ice-packed spaces. All icebreaker ships lack stabilizers.
8. Powerful lights: Most operations are conducted in winter (dark) conditions.
9. Helipad with a helicopter: For scientific work, search and rescue operations, spotting open water, and guiding the ship.

Most newly built icebreakers, as well as many newly refitted ones, are equipped with Azimuth thrusters (also known as Azipods). These new-generation propulsion units replace the traditional "fixed propeller-rudder" system with 360-degree horizontally rotating pods. These units provide the vessel with better maneuverability and an improved ice-breaking capability. Azipods also allow the icebreaker to move astern, thus opening a wider channel for the following ships in the convoy. The above picture shows another popular icebreaker design, with three bow thrusters mounted inside the hull. Below you see the Baltika icebreaker ship design.

This is a unique project, resulting in the construction of the world's first marine vessel with an asymmetric (oblique) hull. This design allows the ship to move sideways (at a large angle of attack) for opening a wider channel for larger ships.

Early History

The first icebreakers were ice-strengthened sail ships used for polar exploration. Their hulls were covered outside with bands of iron, plus metal sheeting at the ship's bow (forward-most part), stern (aft-most part), and along the keel (protruding below and along the ship's central line).

Next-generation icebreakers were steam-powered. These were wooden steamers propelled by a stern paddlewheel or by two paddle-wheels (mounted portside and starboard). One of the first such ships was constructed in the USA - named "City Ice Boat" and built in 1837 for the city of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Its paddles were made of wood (reinforced with iron).

The first metal-hull icebreaker (with a rounded shape) was Russian - named "Pilot," launched in 1864 and used until 1890 for operations in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea (between Finland, Estonia, and Russia). Its bow was also altered for better ice-clearing capability.

Germany's first-ever icebreaker, named "Eisbrecher I," was built with the Pilot's design and used for operations on the Elbe River. The world's first polar icebreaker was built in England. Named "Yermak," the ship was constructed in 1897 under a Russian Navy contract. It weighed 5,000 tons, with steam engines delivering 10,000 horsepower (~7,450 kW). This icebreaker served until 1963, making it the world's longest-serving.

Canada's first icebreakers were used on the Saint Lawrence River (connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes). The first Canadian Arctic icebreaker ships were built in 1930 (CGS McLean) and 1952 (CGS D'Iberville).

Diesel Icebreakers

The first diesel-powered icebreaker ship was Swedish - the 4,330-ton "Ymer" (1933-1977). Its diesel engine delivered 9,000 horsepower (~6,700 kW). The ship had two stern propellers and one bow propeller. Finland's first diesel icebreaker was named "Sisu" (1939-1976). After their decommissioning, both were replaced by much larger versions: Ymer (1977) and Sisu (1976). The new-design icebreakers featured a short and wide hull (with a rounded bottom) and powerful diesel-electric propulsion with all three propellers (two at the stern, one at the bow).

The first Canadian diesel icebreaker was named "CCGS Labrador" (1952-1987, without a bow propeller). The larger and more powerful version was named "CCGS John A. Macdonald" (1960-1994, with power output 15,000 hp (~11.2 MW) and three propeller shafts). The country's largest and most powerful icebreaker was named "CCGS Louis S. St Laurent" (1969-2030). Its original steam plant delivered 27,000 hp (~20 MW). During its 1993 refit, the boat got a new powerplant consisting of five engines, three diesel generators, and three electric motors.

The world's most powerful (non-nuclear) icebreaking ships are the USCG vessels Healy (2000) and Mackinaw (2006). They have diesel-electric propulsion with a powerplant of six marine diesels combined with three gas turbines. The power plants generate ~18,000 hp (~13 MW) output, and their gas turbines produce a combined ~60,000 hp (45 MW) output.

Nuclear Icebreakers

All still-functioning nuclear-powered icebreaker ships are Russian, most of which were built during the Soviet Union (USSR). The world's first-ever was named "NS Lenin" (1959-1989, now a museum ship in Port Murmansk) and was a civilian vessel. The second ("NS Arktika"/1975-2008) was the world's first to reach the Geographic North Pole (August 17, 1977).

In 1993, the world's largest icebreaker, 50 Let Pobedy ("50 Years of Victory"), was launched under the name "NS Ural." Until 2017, this Arktika-class (Project 10520) was the world's most powerful icebreaker, equipped with two OK-900A nuclear reactors (generating 458,630 hp / 342 MW total output).

Russia's nuclear fleet of icebreakers is used exclusively in the Arctic Ocean, to escort merchant ships and to assist research stations floating in the waters north of Siberia. These nuclear ships are also used for scientific and cruise expeditions and must sail in ice-cold waters to effectively cool their reactors.

Floating Nuclear Powerplant "Akademik Lomonosov"

The world's first "floating nuclear powerplant" (nuclear reactor at sea) was built in Russia - launched in June 2010 and commissioned in July 2019. The vessel "Akademik Lomonosov" is a floating (non-self-propelled) barge and power-generating unit that can be connected (via cables) to any offshore or onshore infrastructure to supply it with electricity.

The new technology is unique and has no analogs worldwide. The floating powerplant was designed to deliver electricity to major Russian Arctic port cities and industrial enterprises (including offshore gas and oil platforms). It allows the power station to become a marine vessel (displacement tonnage 21,500 tons) manned by a crew of 69.

However, unlike the icebreakers, this vessel has to be towed to its destination. The barge has a length of 144 m (472 ft), a width of 30 m (98 ft), combined power output (2x KLT-40C / modified nuclear reactors) 70 MW (electricity) or 300 MW (heat), and is owned by Rosatom. Both reactors were assembled in Nizhny Novgorod.

Russian Icebreakers

Note: You can see CruiseMapper's list of all Russian icebreaking vessels in the "Itinerary" section (above, next to "Review").

Rosmorrechflot is Russia's Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport. AARI stands for Russia's "Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute".

Russia's leading icebreaker shipbuilding yard is the Baltic Shipyard (Baltiysky Zavod Ordzhonikidze / Балтийский завод Орджоникидзе), one of the oldest in Russia (founded in 1856). The shipyard is part of the Russian joint-stock company USC (United Shipbuilding Corporation / Объединeнная судостроительная корпорация).

Baltic Shipyard is located on Vasilievsky Island (St. Petersburg). It is the shipyard that built most of the Soviet Union's nuclear icebreakers. Currently under construction is the Viktor Chernomyrdin ship (the yellow-greenish rendering image above). This is the world's largest and most powerful diesel-engine icebreaker (length 482 ft / 145 m, deadweight 22,260 DWT). The next photo shows a diesel-powered ship design.

The largest icebreakers in the world (nuclear-powered, Project 22220) areNS Arktika (2020), Sibir (2021), NS Ural (2022), NS Yakutia (2024), NS Chukotka (2026), NS Stalingrad/fka Kamchatka (2028), and NS Leningrad/fka Sakhalin (2030). "NS" stands for "nuclear ship".

Viktor Chernomyrdin (2018, Project 22600) is currently the world's biggest diesel-powered icebreaker.

The next YouTube video (official release by Росатом Госкорпорация) was published on June 19, 2018, and is titled "Самый большой атомный ледокол" (world's largest nuclear icebreaker).

The following image shows the design of the new "Project 21900" Russian icebreakers. A total of five vessels were built between 2008 and 2016. Their names are Moskva (2008), Sankt Peterburg (2009), Vladivostok (2015), Murmansk (2015), and Novorossiysk (2016).

Below is the design of the "Project 22220" ship, Russia's largest nuclear icebreakers, which are currently under construction in St. Petersburg. Their design was developed in 2009 by the Russian research company "Central Design Bureau Iceberg" (based in St. Petersburg). This company is a subsidiary of the OJSC company DTsSS ("Dalnevostochnyi Tsentr Sudostroyeniya I Sudoremonta," or "Far East Center for Shipbuilding and Ship Repairs"), based in Vladivostok (Primorsky Krai, Russia).

Yamal LNG Vessels (Icebreaking Tanker Ships)

Russia's "Yamal LNG" project (yamallng.ru) involved designing and building Arctic icebreaking LNG carriers. As part of this project, the Korean shipbuilder DSME (Daewoo) built a series of 16 such vessels.

The icebreaking gas carriers have the following vessel particulars:

• Dual-acting hull form - ice bow (for navigating forward in thin ice and open sea) and heavy ice-breaking aft (for navigating astern in thick ice)
• Hull steel - designed for operation in temperatures as low as -52°C (-61°F)
• Strengthened hull (with ice belts - forward and aft)
• Ice-breaking capacity - 2.5 m / 8 ft
• LOA length - 299 m / 980 ft
• Width - 50 m / 164 ft
• Draft - 12 m / 39 ft
• Pod propulsion (3 azimuth thrusters with ~45 MW power output)
• Two engine rooms with marine diesel-electric power plants
• LNG capacity - 172,000 m³
• Each ship has four membrane LNG tanks of the "GTT NO 96" type
• Flag-state / registry - Russia
• Russian Register standard - RMRS ARC7
• Bureau Veritas standard - Polar Class 3 and 4
• Shipbuilder - DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding), Okpo yard
• Shipbuilding cost - USD 300 million (GBP 233 million)
• Ownership - MOL (50%) and COSCO Shipping (50%)

These ships are operated by the companies Sovcomflot (1), MOL (3), Teekay Corporation (6), and Dynagas (5). On November 2, 2017, MOL (Mitsui OSK Lines) announced that China's COSCO Shipping Corporation acquired a 50% stake in MOL's wholly-owned subsidiary that owns four carriers serving Yamal LNG (LNG Dubhe, LNG Merak, LNG Phecda, LNG Megrez). The ships were built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (China).

The first of the three newbuilds for MOL and China COSCO, the LNG-carrier Vladimir Rusanov, was delivered on December 21, 2017. It began long-term charter operations on March 27, 2018. The second and third vessels were delivered in September 2018 and September 2019.

An icebreaking LNG carrier transports gas from Hammerfest (Norway) to Boryeong (South Korea) in just 19 days — 30% faster than through the Suez Canal.

The ships' owner and operator is the company "Yamal LNG." This is a joint venture between PJSC NOVATEK (Russia's largest LNG producer, 50.1%), Total SA (multinational, 20%), CNPC (China's largest oil and gas producer-supplier, 20%), and Silk Road Fund (China's state-owned investment fund, 9.9%).

As part of the Yamal LNG project:

• More than 200 wells were drilled.
• One gas transshipment terminal was built.
• Three LNG trains were constructed, each with an annual gas capacity of 5.5 million tons.
• Fifteen ice-breaking LNG tankers were built.

ARC7-class LNG carriers were launched in 2016 (Christophe de Margerie), in 2017 (Boris Vilkitsky, Fedor Litke, Eduard Toll), in 2018 (Rudolf Samoylovich, Vladimir Vize, Vladimir Rusanov, Georgiy Brusilov, Boris Davydov, Nikolay Zubov), and in 2019 (Nikolay Yevgenov, Vladimir Voronin, Georgiy Ushakov, Yakov Gakkel).

Yamal LNG ships are based at Port Sabetta (Yamal Peninsula, Russia), in western Siberia, at the estuary of the Ob River. The USD 27 million facility is ice-bound for nine months of the year. The project ensures the shipping of Russian Arctic natural gas (from the South Tambey gas field) to Europe and Asia.

On May 1, 2018, the first LNG transshipment from Sabetta (Yamal) to Zeebrugge (Belgium) took place from an icebreaking carrier to a conventional LNG carrier. The gas transfer (from MS Eduard Toll to MS Pskov) was via the Fluxys pipeline network and took place at quays 615 and 616 (outer port). The 2015-signed contract with the Fluxys terminal constitutes an annual LNG transshipment of 107 loads (from icebreaking vessels) to conventional vessels.

On December 11, 2018, NOVATEK announced that Yamal LNG had reached full capacity with three operational LNG trains (the second and third trains were inaugurated six months ahead of schedule). Yamal LNG consists of three liquefaction trains, each with a capacity of 5.5 MTPA (Million Metric Tons Per Annum), for a total of 16.5 MTPA. In the year from December 2017 to 2018, approximately 7.5 million tons of LNG were produced and delivered.

The first cargo from Yamal LNG to Japan (TEPCO Ohgishima LNG Terminal, Yokohama) was delivered in July 2020 via the Northern Sea Route and the ARC7-class tanker Vladimir Rusanov.

In early November 2020, ABB Marine & Ports signed a USD 300+ million contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding to supply Azipod (power-propulsion) packages for six newbuild LNG carriers to be deployed on the Northern Sea Route. The package includes three 17 MW units (total power output 51 MW / 68,400 HP) per ship, enabling safe navigation through 2.1-meter thick ice. Upon delivery (starting in 2023), the six icebreaking LNG carriers (each with a maximum LNG capacity of 170,000 m³) will serve NOVATEK's Arctic LNG 2 project.

Russian Ice-Breaking LNG Tankers

In June 2017, the LNG tanker "Christophe de Margerie" (owned by SCF-Sovcomflot) was launched. The vessel became the world's first ice-class LNG tanker, designed for seasonal navigation on the Northern Sea Route (Russian Arctic, July through November) without an icebreaker escort. The voyage between Asia and Europe takes just 15 days (via the Bering Strait), or half the time required on the route via the Suez Canal.

• In July 2018, Christophe de Margerie set a record for crossing the Northern Sea Route (eastward, from Sabetta to Cape Dezhnev), covering 4,370 km (2,720 miles) in 7 days and 17 hours. The vessel navigated without icebreaker support, at an average speed of 12.8 knots (24 km/h / 15 mph). The full voyage from Russia to China (Sabetta to Tangshan) took 18.5 days.
• Launched in December 2017, the Christophe de Margerie ship has an ice-breaking capacity of 2.1 meters, propulsion power of 45 MW (comparable to nuclear-powered icebreakers), and a crew of 29 (including 13 officers).

In late September 2017, Sovcomflot (SCF Group), Rosneft (STLC), and Zvezda Shipbuilding signed an agreement for the construction of five Aframax icebreaking tankers for crude oil and oil products export shipments (year-round operations) in Northern Europe and Asia's Arctic regions. Each of the 114,000 DWT ships was built by Zvezda Shipbuilding in partnership with HHI (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea). The vessels' owner and operator is Sovcomflot-SCF, with deliveries scheduled for 2021. These icebreaking LNG-powered oil tankers were designed to use LNG as the primary fuel and to comply with IMO's newest regulations and standards (effective since 2020) concerning SOx, NOx, and CO2 emissions.

In October 2017, Rosnefteflot signed agreements with Zvezda Shipbuilding for the construction of 10 Arctic shuttle oil tankers. Simultaneously, Rosnefteflot (a subsidiary of Rosneft, the majority state-owned Russian oil company) signed a 20-year time charter agreement with Taimyrneftegaz for these 10 Aframax oil tankers.

• Builder: Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex
• Ice-class ARC7 / ICE-1A
• LOA length: 250 m (820 ft)
• Width: 44 m (144 ft)
• Deadweight: 114,000 tonnes
• Ice-breaking capacity: up to 1.8 m (6 ft)
• Lowest operational temperature: -45°C (-49°F)
• 10 ship orders (vessel launch/delivery years) - Vladimir Monomakh (2020), Nursultan Nazarbayev (2022)

These tankers transport crude oil produced at the Paiyakhskoe field (Enisey River) on both eastbound and westbound routes along the Northern Sea Route. On September 11, 2018, the keel for the first Aframax oil tanker was laid.

In June 2019, during the SPIEF ("St. Petersburg International Economic Forum"), the joint venture company "Maritime Arctic Transport LLC" was officially established.

• The four-party agreement was signed by NOVATEK, Sovcomflot, COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Ltd (China), and Silk Road Fund Co Ltd (China, founded in 2014). Maritime Arctic Transport manages the icebreaking LNG tanker fleet (existing and new ships) serving all current and future NOVATEK projects, including Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 (Gydan Peninsula), among others.
• On June 6, the four-party agreement was signed for the building and management of seaports along Russia's NSR (Northern Sea Route). The parties included the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF / Russian Federation's sovereign wealth fund), ROSATOM (NSR's infrastructure operator), Norilsk Nickel (the world's largest producer of palladium and high-quality nickel), and DP World Dubai (one of the world's largest port and logistics operators).
• Project focus: linear transportation of TEUs and bulk cargoes along the NSR via the ice-class fleet (plus assisting icebreakers) and developing the route's port infrastructure.

In September 2019, SCF and NYK Line signed a USD 176 million non-recourse loan to finance two icebreaking LNG carriers for the Sakhalin-2 project. The 8-year credit facility was signed with three banks - Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (via SMBC Bank EU AG), France's Societe Generale, and Japan's Shinsei Bank Ltd. The sister ships Grand Aniva (2008) and Grand Elena (2007) are jointly owned and operated by SCF and NYK Line. They both transport LNG from the homeport of Prigorodnoye (Sakhalin Island) to Asian ports (Japan, South Korea, China). Regular gas shipments from Sakhalin-2 started in March 2009. For 10 years, these ships delivered over 46.5 million m³ of LNG via 325 Okhotsk Sea crossings.

On November 4, 2019, SCF Group and VEB.RF (2007-founded Russian state development corporation) signed a lease financing agreement for the first in a series of icebreaking LNG tankers for the Arctic LNG 2 project. Simultaneously, SCF signed a long-term time charter deal with NOVATEK for this ship. These new-class LNG carriers are designed for year-round Arctic Ocean operations and will be built in Russia (at Zvezda Shipyard in Bolshoy Kamen, Russian Far East). The hull's maximum icebreaking capacity is 2.5 meters.

On June 15, 2021, Zvezda Shipbuilding began the construction of the first of 15 ARC7-class Arctic LNG carriers ordered by Sovcomflot (SCF Group).

• The first vessel is owned by SCF; the remaining 14 are owned by SMART LNG (a Sovcomflot-NOVATEK joint venture).
• All carriers were planned for delivery between 2023 and 2025.
• Details include LOA length: 300 m, width: 49 m, LNG capacity: 172,600 m³, 3 azimuth thrusters (total propulsion power output: 45 MW).

Russian Icebreaking Oil Tankers

At the end of October 2015, Samsung Shipbuilding (South Korea) began constructing a series of six icebreaking tankers under the "42K Arctic Shuttle Tanker" project, surveyed by RS (Russia's Maritime Register of Shipping). The order was placed by SCF Group, which owns three of the ships, operated by Sovcomflot. The vessel's particulars are:

• Ice-breaking capacity: 2.1 meters / 7 feet
• LOA length: 248 meters / 814 feet
• Width: 34 meters / 112 feet
• Depth: 15 meters / 49 feet
• Draft: 9.5 meters / 31 feet
• Deadweight Tonnage (DWT): 42,000 tons
• Flag-state / Registry: Russia

Named after famous Russian Arctic explorers, these six vessels are dual-classed (RS and LR) and are designed for high-latitude, year-round operations in extreme temperatures (down to -45°C). Their purpose is crude oil shipping from the Gulf of Ob (at the mouth of the Ob River, Kara Sea). The first icebreaking tanker was scheduled for completion and delivery by June 2016, with the entire series completed in 2017.

SCF is the owner, and Sovcomflot is the operator of the MS Kapitan Gotsky - a 2008-built oil tanker with a DWT of 70,000 tons and ice-class 1A (strengthened hull).

Russian Icebreaking Container-Cargo Ship

A truly unique vessel is the Russian nuclear icebreaker NS Sevmorput (built in 1988). Its cargo capacity is 74 lighters (flat-bottomed barges, each with a 300-ton capacity) or 1,328 TEU containers (TEU = twenty-foot equivalent unit).

This is currently the world's only nuclear merchant ship—operational and still in service. Sevmorput is also the newest of the four nuclear cargo ships ever constructed, alongside:

• NS Mutsu (Japan, launched 1972, decommissioned 1992, rebuilt as the ocean observation vessel "Mirai")
• NS Savannah (USA, launched 1962, decommissioned 1972, now a museum ship)
• NS Otto Hahn (Germany, launched 1968, scrapped in 2009)

Other Russian icebreaker cargo vessels include:

• FESCO Vasily Golovnin (general cargo ship, 298 TEU containers)
• FESCO Magadan (Arc4-class containership, 822 TEUs) - connects from homeport Magadan with Vladivostok and Vostochny.
• MS Norilskiy Nickel - diesel-powered icebreaking containership, designed and built in Germany. This carrier operates independently on a year-round schedule in Siberia without the assistance of an icebreaker.
• MV Nunavik (bulk carrier)

In early November 2018, MSCO (Murmansk Shipping Company) and Sibanthracite Overseas AG (a subsidiary of Russia's largest coal company VostokCoal) announced a 5-year agreement (2019-2024) for coal deliveries along the Northern Sea Route. The year-round service is via MSCO-owned ice-class bulk carriers.

Russian Arctic Research Ship Platform

At the end of March 2018, Russia announced plans to build a research ship platform for year-round autonomous operations in the Arctic region.

• The self-propelled platform will have the highest ice-class hull and the capacity to operate autonomously in Arctic waters for up to 3 years.
• The "North Pole" ship will feature a nuclear power plant, a helicopter-landing platform, and the latest maritime and research equipment. This new ship platform will replace all Russian research stations currently based on drifting ice floes. The USSR (later Russia) has had floating Arctic research stations since 1937, except for a break between 1991-2003.
• The EUR 98 million shipbuilding project is a joint venture with Roshydromet (Russia's federal meteorological agency). Construction started in 2019.

Australia-UK-Canada-USA Icebreakers

Below is a list of UK and US icebreaker ships. Some of them (prefixed with "USCGC" and "CCGS") are in service for the USCG ("United States Coast Guard") and CCG ("Canadian Coast Guard") in Alaskan and Arctic waters (North America). "NSF" stands for "National Science Foundation" (the US Government's research and education agency). "BAS" stands for "British Antarctic Survey" (the UK Government's research organization).

US and Canadian Coast Guards provide critical icebreaking services to commercial ships and ferries accessing US-Canadian ports during the wintertime. The CCG also supports re-supply activities in the Canadian Arctic during the summer, thus supporting year-round shipping in Eastern Canada, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Great Lakes.

On January 13, 2016, the USCG released requirements for two new heavy icebreakers (Polar Sentinel/2025, and Polar TBN/2026) with a budget cost of approximately USD 1 billion per unit. There was a meeting with interested companies in March 2016. For comparison, while the USA has only 2 operational icebreakers (Healy, Polar Star), Russia has 42 (with another 12 planned or already under construction), and China has 2. The USCG warned that as the Arctic Ocean opens to tourism, mining, and oil drilling, the US risks lacking the capacity for search and rescue operations and oil spill response missions.

On May 22, 2019, Canada's Prime Minister announced a government investment of CAD 15.7 billion (USD 11.8 billion) to renew the CCG's fleet with up to 16 multi-purpose icebreaking vessels (to be built by Seaspan/Vancouver Shipyard), plus 2 offshore patrol ships (to be built by Irving Shipbuilding/Halifax Shipyard). In early August 2019, a program was announced for procuring 6 new (Canada-built) icebreakers to replace the current CCG fleet's aging vessels.

(NEW) Australian Antarctic Icebreaker

In October 2015, the Government of Australia revealed a new icebreaker ship design and announced a contract for building a marine science research and supply ice-breaking vessel. Classified as ASRV ("Antarctic Supply Research Vessel"), it will allow extended access to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The ship's equipment includes a multibeam echosounder (for seabed mapping), a stern helipad, and three cargo cranes. Portable research laboratories will feature the latest technological equipment.

The ship design is by the Dutch company Knud E Hansen AS (specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering). The shipbuilder is the Holland-based Damen Shipyards Group.

The contract was signed with UK-based DMS Maritime, Australia's largest maritime services provider (part of the Serco Group). The new Antarctic icebreaker shipbuilding project has a budget of AUD 1 billion (USD ~720 million). The ship will be commissioned in April 2020.

About 1/4 of the world's oil and gas resources lie beneath the Arctic Ocean waters. The states that have already laid claims to Arctic territories include Russia, Norway, Denmark (because of Greenland), Canada, and the USA. Note: Most of the technical information on this page is sourced from Wikipedia. To share our icebreakers ship tracking hub page, use the social media button links.

In March 16, 2018, Aker Arctic signed a deal with ICEYE ("synthetic aperture radar" SAR provider) to develop and provide microsatellite data related to sea ice conditions. The data is provided to Aker Arctic-serviced vessels navigating in icy conditions (icebreaking and polar expedition ships). The new SAR satellite data, combined with maritime-gathered data and analytics, provides a cost-efficient service to Aker Arctic customers. During the project's 1-year pilot phase, the new services were developed and tested. In 2018, ICEYE launched two new microsatellites (ICEYE-X1, ICEYE-X2) specifically designed for this service. ICEYE announced plans to build a network of 18 SAR satellites for accurately imaging the entire planet every few hours.

Since the fall of the USSR, many icebreakers (including nuclear-powered) are also operated as cruise ships in the Arctic Ocean - to carry cruise passengers to the North Pole. The itinerary lasts about 20 days, with prices reaching up to USD 25000 per person. Most of the modern Russian icebreakers ("ledokol" / "ледокол" in Russian) have a separate cabin deck for tourists.

Follows the complete list of Russian icebreakers in active service. A small but most unusual cruise travel niche, the ice breaker ship travel's popularity prompts most of the Russian ice-breaking vessels to be also operated as cruise ships under charter by both domestic and foreign operators.

These unique ships operate on itineraries in Russia's Arctic Ocean waters, with departures mostly from Europe, but also from Far-East Russia (Asia) ports. Notes: In brackets are shown the ship owners. All nuclear ships are state-owned and managed/operated by Rosatom (a state corporation) through Atomflot. Rosmorport is a state-owned company (a Federal State Unitary Enterprise).

On the map here you can see the routes of the two classic Arctic Ocean expedition cruise itineraries. These ice-breaker ship travel itineraries usually start in Europe. The Northeast Passage itinerary is along Russia's coast, while the "Northwest Passage" itinerary includes Greenland, Canada and the USA (Alaska).

Most icebreaker ships are used to keep the ice-covered shipping trade routes open. The regions where icebreakers are most needed are Baltic Sea, Great Lakes, Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Arctic Sea Route. There, icebreakers escort cargo vessel convoys through the ice-packed waters.

On the next map, you can see all major destination ports of call and the exact sailing route of a Russian Arctic icebreaker cruise ship itinerary. For foreign tourists, it usually starts with a flight from the USA to Russia - Anchorage (Alaska) to the embarkation port Anadyr (Chukotka).

List of Russian icebreakers

Follows a list of all (including new) Russian icebreaking vessels (some currently under construction). In brackets is shown the scheduled year of launch.

• (nuclear ships operated by Atomflot/Rosmorport) - NS Rossiya (2027/Project 10510 "Leader"), NS Taymyr (1989), NS Vaygach (1990), NS Sovetskiy Soyuz (1990), NS Yamal (1992), NS 50 Let Pobedy (2007, NS Arktika (2020), NS Sibir (2021), NS Ural (2022), NS Yakutia (2024), NS Chukotka (2026), NS TBN2 (2030/Leader), NS TBN3 (2032/Leader)
• Admiral Makarov (FESCO)
• Akademik Fyodorov and Akademik Tryoshnikov (research vessels, AARI)
• Akademik Ioffe (fka "One Ocean Navigator" cruise ship, polar research vessel, RAS-Academy of Sciences)
• Akademik Vavilov (fka "One Ocean Voyager" cruise ship, polar research vessel, RAS-Academy of Sciences)
• Aleksey Chirikov, Vitus Bering, Yevgeny Primakov, Gennadiy Nevelskoy, Fedor Ushakov, Stepan Makarov (SCF-Sovcomflot icebreaking standby and supply vessels / IBSBV)
• Andrey Vilkitsky, Alexander Sannikov - Gazprom Neft icebreaking support vessels, project Aker ARC130A)
• Baltika (rescuer, Rosmorrechflot)
• Dikson (Rosmorport)
• Dudinka (Norilsk Nickel)
• Eisbrecher7 (2023) - under construction
• Krasin (FESCO)
• Magadan (FESCO)
• Moskva (Project 21900, Rosmorport, 2008-built)
• Mudyug (Rosmorport)
• Murmansk (Project 21900, Rosmorport, 2015-built)
• Novorossiysk (Project 21900, Rosmorport, 2016-built)
• Sankt Peterburg (Project 21900, Rosmorport, 2009-built)
• NS Sevmorput (icebreaking container ship, nuclear-powered)
• Viktor Chernomyrdin (diesel-powered, Rosmorport, 2018-built)
• Vladivostok (Project 21900, Rosmorport, 2015-built)
• Kapitan Dranitsyn (cruise ship, polar research vessel, AARI)
• Kapitan Khlebnikov (cruise ship, FESCO)
• Kapitan Nikolaev (Rosmorport)
• Kapitan Sorokin (Rosmorport)
• Ilya Muromets (Russian Navy/Project 21180)
• Yevpaty Kolovrat (Russian Navy/Project 21180M)

Russian river icebreakers

Next are reviewed smaller-sized vessels used for bay/habror and river ice-breaking services.

Kapitan Evdokimov-class (project 1191) river icebreakers

These sisterships belong to a series of all 8x "Kapitan Evdokimov"-class (project 1191) units.

• Avraamiy Zavenyagin (1984-built as "Kapitan Krylov"/Norilsk Nickel), since 2015 homeported in Dudinka (Krasnoyarsk Krai)
• Kapitan Babichev (1983/LORP JSC Yakutsk-Ленское объединённое речное пароходство)
• Kapitan Borodkin (1983/LORP JSC Yakutsk), Kapitan Chudinov (1983/Rosmorport), Kapitan Demidov (1984/Rosmorport), Kapitan Moshkin (1985/Rosmorport): Azov Sea from homeport Rostov-on-Don
• Kapitan Evdokimov (1983/Rosmorport), Dvina River-White Sea
• Kapitan Metsayk (1984/Rosmorport): Volga River-Caspian Sea from Astrakhan

Each of these boats has Dining Room, Sauna, Helipad, and the following specifications:

• Builder: Hietalahti-Helsinki Shipyard (Finland)
• Speed: 14 kn / 26 kph / 16 mph
• LOA-length: 77 m / 253 ft
• Beam (width): 17 m / 56 ft
• GT: 1970 tons
• Crew: 25
• Max Draught: 2,6 m
• Displacement tonnage: 2340 tons
• DWT Deadweight tonnage: 328 tons
• ice-breaking capacity 1 m
• Powerplant: 3x Wartsila 12V22B diesel engines (combined 4,8 MW power output), 3x generators (combined 4,6 MW output), 4x propulsion motors (each 0,95 MW power output)

Kapitan Chechkin"-class (project 1105) river icebreakers

These sisterships belong to a series of all 6x "Kapitan Chechkin"-class (project 1105) units.

Project 1105 are of the type "river-sea" icebreakers, capable to operate in ice up to 1 meter thick. They are all equipped with a towing hook and intended for use at seaports in the south, west, and north of Russia. These icebreakers operate on Volga River, Neva River, Azov Sea and Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland).

• Kapitan Bukaev (1978), Kapitan Chechkin (1977), Kapitan Chadaev (1978): Volga River-Caspian Sea shipping channel from Astrakhan
• Kapitan Plakhin (1977): Volga River from St Petersburg
• Kapitan Krutov (1978), Kapitan Zarubin (1978): Black Sea from Novorossiysk

Each of these boats has Dining Room, Sauna, Helipad, and the following specifications:

• Builder: Wаrtsilа Marine (Helsinki, Finland)
• Operator: Rosmorport
• Speed: 13 kn / 24 kph / 15 mph
• LOA-length: 78 m / 256 ft
• Beam (width): 17 m / 56 ft
• GT: 1600 tons
• Crew: 18
• Max Draught: 3,5 m
• Displacement tonnage: 2240 tons
• DWT Deadweight tonnage: 262 tons
• ice-breaking capacity 1 m
• Power output: 4720 kW

The next 3x sisterships are 1976-built (by Hietalahti-Helsinki Finland). Kapitan Izmaylov (Finland Gulf-Neva River from St Petersburg) and Kapitan Kosolapov (Dvina River-White Sea from Arkhangelsk) are owned by Rosmorport. Kapitan Radzhabov is owned by Azerbaijan (from Port Baku).

• Dining Room, Sauna, Helipad
• Max Draught: 4 m (13 ft)
• DWT tonnage: 354 tons
• ice-breaking capacity 1 m
• Powerplant: 4x Wartsila diesel engines (each 4 MW, or 16 MW combined power output), 2 electric motors (each 1270 kW/5,08 MW combined output)

List of British, Australian, American and Canadian icebreakers

In the following list, in brackets is shown the year of launch and the country that owns the vessel.

• Aurora Australis (1990, Australia)
• Nuyina (2020, Australia)
• Hudson (river icebreaker, Canada)
• Nathaniel B Palmer (1992, NSF)
• Laurence M Gould (1997, NSF)
• Sikuliaq (2014, NSF)
• Aiviq (2012, ECO - "Edison Chouest Offshore" - marine transportation companies, USA)
• RV Laura Bassi (1995, Italy)
• Noosfera (1991, Ukraine)
• RRS Sir David Attenborough (2021, BAS UK)
• CCGS Des Groseilliers (1982)
• CCGS Terry Fox (1983)
• CCGS Henry Larsen (1988)
• CCGS Pierre Radisson (1987)
• CCGS Samuel Risley (1985)
• CCGS George R Pearkes (1986)
• CCGS Kopit Hopson 1752 (1986)
• CCGS Martha L Black (1986)
• CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1986)
• CCGS Sir William Alexander (1987)
• CCGS Ann Harvey (1987)
• CCGS John G Diefenbaker (2029/new Polar Class 2)
• CCGS TBN (2030/new Polar Class 2)
• USCGC Healy (2000, cutter)
• USCGC Mackinaw (2006, cutter)
• USCGC Polar Sentinel (2025, cutter)
• USCGC Polar TBN1 (2026, cutter/Polar Class 2)
• USCGC Polar TBN2 (2027, cutter/Polar Class 2)

List of Icebreaking ships by other countries

In the following list, in brackets is shown the year of launch and the vessel's country.

• Aurora Borealis (European Union project)
• Araon (South Korea) 2009
• Ale (Sweden) 1973
• Elsava (river icebreaker, Germany)
• Frej (Sweden) 1975
• Kontio (Finland) 1987
• Kronprins Haakon (Norway) 2017
• MSV Botnica (Estonia) 1998
• MSV Fennica (Finland) 1993
• MSV Nordica (Finland) 1994
• L'Astrolabe (France) 2017
• Oden (Sweden) 1982
• Otso (Finland) 1985
• Polaris (Finland) 2016
• Polar Pevek (Norway) 2006
• Polarstern (Germany) 1982
• Shirase (Japan) 1983
• Sisu (Finland) 1976
• Urho (Finland) 1975
• Xue Long (China/"Snow Dragon") 1993
• Xue Long 2 (China/"Snow Dragon 2") 2019
• Ymer (Sweden) 1976
• (under construction, not named yet) project Arctech 510 (yard number NB 510, Finland)
• MT Mastera and MT Tempera (crude oil carriers - icebreaking tankers, Finland) - year-round crude oil shipping from Russia to Finland (Primorsk oil terminal to Porvoo and Naantali refineries of Neste Oil)*

In late November 2014, Finland's "Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy" released an official statement regarding the country's aging icebreaking fleet. According to the statement, the old fleet will be fully replaced with new icebreakers by the year 2029. Project's overall cost is approx EURO 1 billion. The new vessels (like Polaris) must be multipurpose icebreakers (including for Arctic oil explorations).

Follows a list of the ice-strengthened expedition and research vessels, which are often chartered for polar cruise itineraries to Arctic and Antarctic destinations.

• Akademik Golitsyn (1984, Russia)
• Akademik Shuleykin/Polar Pioneer (1985, Russia), Aurora Expeditions
• Akademik Shokalskiy (1982, Russia)
• Geolog Dmitriy Nalivkin (1983, Russia)
• MS Expedition (1972) owned by G-Adventures
• Professor Molchanov (1982, Russia)
• Professor Multanovskiy (1983, Russia)
• Professor Khromov (1984, Russia)
• Polar Empress (2015, Norway, GC Rieber Shipping)
• Polar Duke (2010, Norway, GC Rieber Shipping)
• Polar Duchess (2011, Norway, GC Rieber Shipping)
• Polar Marquis (2000, Norway, GC Rieber Shipping) - fka Geo Atlantic
• Polar Surveyor (1983) - fka Akademik Gamburtsye
• HMS Trosso (1984) - fka Arnold Veymer
• RRS Discovery (2013, NERC UK)
• RRS James Cook (2007, NERC UK)
• Stella Australis (2010) and Ventus Australis (2018) are owned by Australis Cruises Patagonia.
• Ushuaia (1970) is owned by Antarpply Expeditions.
• Oceanwide Expeditions own the ships Hondius (2019), Ortelius (1989), Plancius (1976), Noorderlicht (1991, 2-mast schooner), Rembrandt van Rijn (1994, 3-mast schooner).
• Quark Expeditions owns or charters the cruise vessels Island Sky (1992), Hans Hansson (1960), Sea Spirit (1991), Ocean Adventurer (1975 ), Ocean Atlantic (1986), Ocean Diamond (1974), Ocean Endeavour (1982), Ocean Nova (1992), World Explorer (2018).
• Magellan Explorer (2019) polar expedition vessel owned by Antarctica XXI
• Le Commandant Charcot (2021) polar superyacht owned by Ponant Cruises