Arctic Marine Transportation - A Centuries-Old Need Still Unmet

Despite exponential advances in marine technology, the arctic seas are notoriously unique in resisting year-round commercial ship operations. From wooden vessels we have progressed to steel ships. Sails have been replaced by steam, then diesels, and even nuclear power. Yet arctic shipping lanes are closed during winter. Icebreakers call for more and more power and are still subject to the brute force and fickleness of the arctic ice, while proposed commercial submarines involve military technology release, nuclear power, and a confined, submerged crew. To overcome these impracticabilities and make the arctic seas truly navigable, small waterplane area ships which use ice cutting techniques and conventional (nonnuclear) ship powerplants are proposed.