U.S. Falls Behind in Ice-Breaker Vessel Production
Rhonda Moniz
December 16, 2011
The United States has fallen behind in providing viable icebreaker vessels for polar research. It is no longer the case that the majority of logistically challenging polar research is done on board American vessels. Research in ice- covered waters requires specialized infrastructure, logistics and equipment to assure scientific data is being collected in an effective and safe manner. Although scientists have been boarding icebreakers and conducting research in these environments, for a number of years now, many questions still go unanswered. Questions regarding global environmental change and its effects on high latitude ecosystems are at the forefront of scientific studies in the polar environment.