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Breaking the ice
The recent ship rescue drama in the Antarctic highlights a rare breed of ships that operate in the icy regions of the world
When three icebreakers from Australia, China and France failed to free the ice-bound Russian vessel Akademik Shokalskiy in the Antarctic, the US' only active heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, is summoned to help.
But she did not get to show off her prowess as the weather improved and the ships freed themselves.
Commissioned jn 1976, the Polar Star remains one of the largest class of ships and one of tbe most powerful non-nuclear icebreakers in the world, besides Russia's nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Its primary missions in polar regions include clearing a shipping route of sea ice for resupply ships to bring food, fuel and goods to research stations. The Polar Star also serves as a scientific research platform, With five laboratories and accommodation for up to 20 scientists.
WHAT IS AN ICEBREAKER?
While ice-capability vessels with extra-protected hulls, propellers and rudders are able to go through thin ice, it is up to the strong and powerful icebreakers to cut through heavy sea ice.
1. THE POWER TO PUSH
The Polar Star's three propeller shafts can be powered by either a diesel-electric or gas turbine power plant. The diesel-electric plant can produce 18,000 shaft horsepower (13,425kw) and the gas turbine plant a total of 75,000 shaft horsepower (55,925kw). Each shaft is connected to a 4.9m diameter, four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller that allows the vessel to reverse.
2. ROCK THE BOAT
The Polar Star can 'rock' itself loose when it gets struck in the ice with a heeling system. It consists of three pairs of connected tanks on opposite sides of the ship. Pumps transfer a tank's contents (35,000 gallons, 133 kilolitres) to an opposing tank in 50 seconds and generate 24,000 foot-tons (64,800kw) of torque on the ship.
3. GLIDE OVER ICE
The icebreaker clears the sea route by pushing straight into ice pockets. As it glides its bow over the thick ice, its weight comes down on the ice floe, crushing it. The smooth hull also pushes the broken ice around or under the ship, as a build-up of 'broken ice in front of the ship can slow it down. The Polar Star can break ice more than 6m thick.
EUROCOPTER HH-65 DOLPHIN
For major depolyments, the Polar Star carries two helicopters on board. They support scientific parties, do ice reconnaissance, cargo transfer, and search and rescue.
HULL COMPARISON
Unlike a normal ship, the hull of an icebreaker is not pointed but has a more rounded structure. While a pointed hull helps a normal ship to slice through the waves and reduce friction between ship and water, the smoother hull design
allows the icebreaker to glide more easily over the thick ice coat.
ICE-NIPPED
Blizzards or heavy winds push the sea ice field together, piling up the ice. When a ship finds itself in a situation where ice is forcibly pressing on both sides, it is said to be "nipped".
WEATHER ALERT!
It is often difficult to predict the fast-changing weather in the wide-spanning Antarctic, so constant surveillance is needed.
Navigation station with 360 deg views
POLAR STAR
Polar-class icebreaker
Length : 122m
Beam : 25.45m
Speed : 33kmh, 5.6kmh in 1.8m ice
Crew : 15 officers, 127 enlisted, 20 scientists
HISTORY OF ICEBREAKERS
While icebreakers may vary in sizes and utilise different types of technology, their design adheres to the first-developed principle.
THE FIRST ICEBREAKERS
In the 11th century, an ethnic group of Russians (Pomors) who lived on the shores of the Arctic Ocean developed the ships known as koch. Its hull was protected by a belt of ice floe resistant flush skin-planking (made of oak or larch).
STEAM POWERED ICEBREAKERS
With a bow built to achieve an ice-clearing capability (20 degrees raised from the keel line), the Russian Pilot of 1864 can push itself on to the top of the ice and break it it is an important predecessor to modern icebreakers.
DIESEL-POWERED ICEBREAKERS
In 1933, Sweden built the world's first 4,330-ton diesel-electric icebreaker, the Ymer. In 1941, the US also started building its own icebreakers, the Wind class.
NUCLEAR ICEBREAKERS
With diesel-powered icebreakers needing to be refuelled regularly and escalating fuel costs, Russia ushered in the era of nuclear-powered icebreakers. it continues to operate all existing and functioning non-nuclear powered-icebreakers.
BY THE NUMBERS
$90M : The 38-year-old Polar Star recently completed a three-year overhaul that costs $90m. Last year, the Polar Star was officially reactivated and returned to the fleet.
The recent ship rescue drama in the Antarctic highlights a rare breed of ships that operate in the icy regions of the world
When three icebreakers from Australia, China and France failed to free the ice-bound Russian vessel Akademik Shokalskiy in the Antarctic, the US' only active heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, is summoned to help.
But she did not get to show off her prowess as the weather improved and the ships freed themselves.
Commissioned jn 1976, the Polar Star remains one of the largest class of ships and one of tbe most powerful non-nuclear icebreakers in the world, besides Russia's nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Its primary missions in polar regions include clearing a shipping route of sea ice for resupply ships to bring food, fuel and goods to research stations. The Polar Star also serves as a scientific research platform, With five laboratories and accommodation for up to 20 scientists.
WHAT IS AN ICEBREAKER?
While ice-capability vessels with extra-protected hulls, propellers and rudders are able to go through thin ice, it is up to the strong and powerful icebreakers to cut through heavy sea ice.
1. THE POWER TO PUSH
The Polar Star's three propeller shafts can be powered by either a diesel-electric or gas turbine power plant. The diesel-electric plant can produce 18,000 shaft horsepower (13,425kw) and the gas turbine plant a total of 75,000 shaft horsepower (55,925kw). Each shaft is connected to a 4.9m diameter, four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller that allows the vessel to reverse.
2. ROCK THE BOAT
The Polar Star can 'rock' itself loose when it gets struck in the ice with a heeling system. It consists of three pairs of connected tanks on opposite sides of the ship. Pumps transfer a tank's contents (35,000 gallons, 133 kilolitres) to an opposing tank in 50 seconds and generate 24,000 foot-tons (64,800kw) of torque on the ship.
3. GLIDE OVER ICE
The icebreaker clears the sea route by pushing straight into ice pockets. As it glides its bow over the thick ice, its weight comes down on the ice floe, crushing it. The smooth hull also pushes the broken ice around or under the ship, as a build-up of 'broken ice in front of the ship can slow it down. The Polar Star can break ice more than 6m thick.
EUROCOPTER HH-65 DOLPHIN
For major depolyments, the Polar Star carries two helicopters on board. They support scientific parties, do ice reconnaissance, cargo transfer, and search and rescue.
HULL COMPARISON
Unlike a normal ship, the hull of an icebreaker is not pointed but has a more rounded structure. While a pointed hull helps a normal ship to slice through the waves and reduce friction between ship and water, the smoother hull design
allows the icebreaker to glide more easily over the thick ice coat.
ICE-NIPPED
Blizzards or heavy winds push the sea ice field together, piling up the ice. When a ship finds itself in a situation where ice is forcibly pressing on both sides, it is said to be "nipped".
WEATHER ALERT!
It is often difficult to predict the fast-changing weather in the wide-spanning Antarctic, so constant surveillance is needed.
Navigation station with 360 deg views
POLAR STAR
Polar-class icebreaker
Length : 122m
Beam : 25.45m
Speed : 33kmh, 5.6kmh in 1.8m ice
Crew : 15 officers, 127 enlisted, 20 scientists
HISTORY OF ICEBREAKERS
While icebreakers may vary in sizes and utilise different types of technology, their design adheres to the first-developed principle.
THE FIRST ICEBREAKERS
In the 11th century, an ethnic group of Russians (Pomors) who lived on the shores of the Arctic Ocean developed the ships known as koch. Its hull was protected by a belt of ice floe resistant flush skin-planking (made of oak or larch).
STEAM POWERED ICEBREAKERS
With a bow built to achieve an ice-clearing capability (20 degrees raised from the keel line), the Russian Pilot of 1864 can push itself on to the top of the ice and break it it is an important predecessor to modern icebreakers.
DIESEL-POWERED ICEBREAKERS
In 1933, Sweden built the world's first 4,330-ton diesel-electric icebreaker, the Ymer. In 1941, the US also started building its own icebreakers, the Wind class.
NUCLEAR ICEBREAKERS
With diesel-powered icebreakers needing to be refuelled regularly and escalating fuel costs, Russia ushered in the era of nuclear-powered icebreakers. it continues to operate all existing and functioning non-nuclear powered-icebreakers.
BY THE NUMBERS
$90M : The 38-year-old Polar Star recently completed a three-year overhaul that costs $90m. Last year, the Polar Star was officially reactivated and returned to the fleet.
