United States, Canada, Military: Icebreaking Capacity and the Northwest Passage

As the recession of the Arctic icepack has drifted northward, more and more of the waters of what could become the Northwest Passage are becoming navigable during the summer. The long-range implication of this is the potential opening of the passage for shipping, with increased energy prospecting and research traffic in the intervening years. Thus, ships' ability to move through and near surface ice will become increasingly relevant in Canada's Arctic North.