I just watched a TV show ab out the Canadian icebreaker Henry Larsen. Fascinating show. Fascinating ship.

She was seen going to the rescue of a woodpulp hauler that was stuck in the ice. The Larsen broke ice by going around the stuck vessel. She was less than 100 feet away. She circled the ship and then pulled out in front and led it to the open sea.

I'm wondering why, as the ice breaker passed the side of the stuck vessel, the ice wasn't forced against the vessels hull. Doesn't the ice that is moved by the breaker have to go somewhere.