Abstract: An ice cutting and breaking vessel is disclosed for providing a shipping channel through an ice layer. The bow of the vessel is provided with a plurality of reciprocating cutting blades for cutting the ice into slabs. The slabs of ice slide under the bow and are pushed under the surrounding ice layer by a wedge-shaped prow depending from the bow and by water discharged laterally from the prow. The vessel is also provided with an emergency ballast tank, located above the water line, which can be quickly emptied through large ports. A pair of grapnels with attached cables may also be provided which are shot from the vessel. When the grapnel hits the ice layer, it pierces the ice and becomes wedged under the ice layer. Using the cables to pull on, the vessel can then haul itself toward the grapnels.