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Field Listing

Icebreakers

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This field lists the number of operational icebreakers by country home ported in an ocean area. The ships are listed by Polar Class (PC) vessel per the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) standards. These vessels have ice strengthening to the hull and installed power (at least 10,000 horsepower) sufficient to traverse polar ice, as well as redundant systems designed for operation at extreme low temperatures. The following describes the Polar Classes as established by IACS.
PC 1 - year-round operation in all polar waters (ice thickness >3 m)
PC 2 - year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions (ice thickness up to 3 m)
PC 3 - year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 2.5 m)
PC 4 - year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 120 cm)
PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm)
PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)

  • Arctic Ocean

    Norway: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker, and one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    Russia: seven PC 1 or 2 class heavy icebreakers, eight PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreakers, and three PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers

    note: the ships are listed by Polar Class (PC) vessel: PC 1 - year-round operation in all polar waters (ice thickness >3 m); PC 2 - year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions (ice thickness up to 3 m); PC 3 - year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 2.5 m); PC 4 - year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 120 cm); PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)

  • Atlantic Ocean

    North Atlantic
    Canada: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker
    France: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    Germany: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    US: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker, and one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    Baltic
    Denmark: three PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    Estonia: two PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    Finland: seven PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreakers, and two PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    Latvia: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    Russia: 22 PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreakers, and five PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    Sweden: four PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreakers
    Great Lakes/St Lawrence Seaway
    Canada: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker, ten PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    Mediterranean
    Italy: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    South Atlantic
    Argentina: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    UK (Falkland Islands): one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker
    South Africa: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker

    note: the ships are listed by Polar Class (PC) vessel: PC 1 - year-round operation in all polar waters (ice thickness >3 m); PC 2 - year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions (ice thickness up to 3 m); PC 3 - year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 2.5 m); PC 4 - year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 120 cm); PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)

  • Pacific Ocean

    North Pacific
    China: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker, and three PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    Japan: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker
    Russia: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker, and six PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
    US: one PC 1 or 2 class heavy icebreaker, one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker, and one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    South Pacific
    Australia: one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker
    Chile: one PC 5 or 6 class light icebreaker
    France (French Polynesia): one PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreaker

    note: the ships are listed by Polar Class (PC) vessel: PC 1 - year-round operation in all polar waters (ice thickness >3 m); PC 2 - year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions (ice thickness up to 3 m); PC 3 - year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 2.5 m); PC 4 - year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 120 cm); PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)