I had a similar reaction - I thought that the ice was reducing (which it is). Wait a bit no ice, no problem.
The article speaks to that. The polar cap melting means thinner ice, which can in turn make sea lanes.
Simplistically, no ice is fine, thick ice is fine, but when there's "thin" ice you need ice breakers.
Russia doesn't have much in the way of non-polar coast (well, not the European end) so they've been breaking ice since forever. The US by comparison has very little polar coast and so less need for icebreakers.
Frankly, not sure it needs them at all except for bragging rights. Canadians maybe, but not sure about the US.
The article speaks to that. The polar cap melting means thinner ice, which can in turn make sea lanes.
Simplistically, no ice is fine, thick ice is fine, but when there's "thin" ice you need ice breakers.
Russia doesn't have much in the way of non-polar coast (well, not the European end) so they've been breaking ice since forever. The US by comparison has very little polar coast and so less need for icebreakers.
Frankly, not sure it needs them at all except for bragging rights. Canadians maybe, but not sure about the US.