I asked the Captain about the ice abilities. The design was to make steady headway in 1 foot of ice, which it does easily but is meaningless he says. There are so many different types of ice and ways in which ice can collect, that the thickness is too limiting a description. Some types of ice 4 or 5 feet thick would be no trouble at all. And then, some types of ice 1 foot thick could be real trouble.
Experience is the key.
So now we are making our way outward, and then to move more southerly. And a bit more west. Our course is perhaps 80 miles away. An hour's run on most western American interstate highways, but 8 or 10 hours here. It all depends upon the course and the ice.