1834, the wooden wheeled icebreaker “Assistance” was built in Baltimore (USA). 1864, Kronstadt merchant M. O. Britnev converted the towing steamer “Pilot” for ice navigation. 1899, the world’s first linear icebreaker was launched "Ermak". In 1928, an expedition took place on the icebreaker "Krasin" to rescue the crew members of the airship "Italy". In 1937, the icebreaker "Joseph Stalin" was launched. In 1957, the world's first nuclear icebreaker "Lenin" was launched. In 1977, the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika reached the North Pole. In 2013, the first of three nuclear-powered double-draft icebreakers of a new generation was laid down at the St. Petersburg Baltic Shipyard.