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Icebreakers sail into Antarctic waters as the sea ice begins to melt in the springtime. Generally, as the sea ice melts, it breaks apart forming leads of open water.

An icebreaker will follow leads until there is no more open water, then turn on its ice-breaking mechanisms to essentially chew up enough ice to allow the ship to continue to sail forward.

These mechanisms are like grinders with blades that rotate perpendicular to the level of the open water. The blade systems are mounted in both sides of the bows of icebreakers.

An exact measurement of 'how much ice' is involved varies depending on the sea ice, the icebreaker, its origin and its destination.

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10y ago

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