CNN CNN Newsroom January 5, 2014 22:59:00
This is breaking the ice. cutting a 56-mile channel for a supply chip to bring in fuel and food. two of the most crucial supplies for winter survival. commander steve wheeler is commander of the polar sea. >> we want to shave off big chunks of ice between us and the channel. >> next year when we come back and have to break the channel, it is all first-year ice which is much easier to break. this year is second year. we have gotten rid of the first year ice. the older ice, the harder it is, the salt and driirt and what no leaches out of the ice. >> how thick is this, commander?