Wide beam, multi-hull icebreaker vessel

A wide beam, multi-hull icebreaker comprising:

• a plurality of hulls spaced apart and arranged generally in parallel to one another, each of the plurality of hulls comprising a bow thereon configured to break through a sheet of ice through which the wide beam, multi-hull icebreaker traverses, and wherein the plurality of spaced apart hulls define at least one channel therebetween into which at least of portion of ice broken by the hulls is routed;
• a bridging structure connecting the plurality of hulls;
• and
• a conveyor system positioned and configured to remove ice from the at least one channel and convey it to a region outside of a track in the ice formed by the wide beam, multi-hull icebreaker.

A method of assisting a wide beam vessel through an ice field, the method comprising:

• providing a wide-beam, multi-hull icebreaker comprising a plurality of hulls spaced apart and arranged generally in parallel to one another, each of the plurality of hulls comprising a bow thereon configured to break through a sheet of ice through which the wide beam, multi-hull icebreaker traverses, wherein the plurality of spaced apart hulls define at least one channel therebetween;
• and
• advancing the wide-beam, multi-hull icebreaker through the ice field to form a track of broken ice in the ice field through which the wide beam vessel can pass;
• wherein the plurality of hulls are spaced apart a distance such that a beam of the wide beam, multi-hull icebreaker is as wide as a beam of the wide beam vessel it is assisting, such that a width of the track of broken ice in the ice field is essentially the same width as the wide beam vessel.