Icebreakers
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 icebreakerRussia: 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 AtlanticCanada: 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 PacificChina: 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)