[billyboy15]

“Polar Star is able to break through ice up to 21 feet (6 m) thick and steam continuously through 6 feet (1.8 m) of ice at 3 knots (6 km/h).”

I find this to be amazing. I had NO idea any ship would move an inch when faced with ice even 2 feet thick much less 21 ft. Anyone know if there is video of a ship such as this in action?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

“....The Polar Star is just returning to service after a years-long, $90 million overhaul. It’s designed to get through a 6-foot-thick (2-meter-thick) layer of ice when it’s sailing at 3.5 mph — and when it’s in its backing-up-and-ramming mode, it’s capable of handling ice that’s up to 21 feet (6.5 meters) thick....”

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/how-icebreakers-work-sometimes-dont-work-2D11821223

[Partisan Gunslinger]

I had NO idea any ship would move an inch when faced with ice even 2 feet thick much less 21 ft.

Me neither. Wow.

[FBD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8h-pArWZyY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is a pretty good video of an icebreaker in action.

[FBD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGXREUU2v70&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Megastructures - building an icebreaker

[FBD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGXREUU2v70&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Megastructures - building an icebreaker