Abstract: Broken ice floes move laterally by the prow of an ice breaker into a position below the unbroken ice cover laterally limit the fairway channel formed and surround the stern of the ship, so that as a result of the increased water speed produced by the propeller thrust deduction the ice is drawn into the propeller, which chops it up, so that increased propeller power is necessary. In addition, the propeller can be damaged by ice floes moved back into the fairway channel. To avoid this, the horizontal propulsion of the ice breaker takes place in propeller-independent manner by jet or rocket engines or by instantaneous or constant propulsion energy-producing force closure of the hull with a mechanical apparatus located on the ocean bed, such as a chain, cable or lowered travelling piles, and a mechanical pushing off or hauling in apparatus being provided on the hull side.