Navigating the northern seas has always been a challenging task, especially in the Russian north, where ice could freeze ports for almost six months, completely halting shipping. Various methods were proposed to solve this problem: from mechanical saws to icebreakers and heated hulls capable of melting ice.

Russian merchant and inventor Mikhail Britnev proposed a radical solution. Born in 1822 in Kronstadt, he dedicated his life to the sea and often embarked on long voyages. He borrowed the idea of the icebreaker from the Pomor koches, whose design allowed them to crawl onto the ice without damage. Britnev modified the screw tug "Pilot," cutting the bow at an angle of about 20 degrees below the waterline. With a steam engine of 60 horsepower, the "Pilot" would crawl onto the ice and break it with its weight. Admiral Stepan Makarov noted that this small steamboat extended the navigation time in autumn and winter by several weeks. Inspired by this success, Britnev built two more vessels, "Buoy" and "Boy," which became the first icebreakers in Russia. These innovations were soon adopted by other countries.

It is also worth mentioning another icebreaker project developed by engineer Nikolai Euler. He proposed using heavy cast-iron weights on chains to break the ice in front of the vessel. However, the tests were unsuccessful, as the vessel got stuck in the ice, and ultimately, preference was given to Britnev's icebreakers.