NRC assists in designing tough new US icebreakers

The National Research Council is assisting the US government in the testing and evaluation of design models for the US heavy polar icebreaker acquisition program. The NRC will assess how the new designs will operate in harsh environmental conditions which includes tests to assess maneuverability in ice and ice breaking resistance as well as long-term management of the icebreaker’s hull integrity. The NRC is participating in the venture through the Critical Infrastructure Protection and Border Security Agreement between Defence R&D Canada’s Centre for Security Science and the S&T Directorate of the US Department of Homeland Security and US Navy.