The Coast Guard Cutter Healy breaks ice around the Russian-flagged tanker Renda 250 miles south of Nome Jan. 6, 2012. The vessels are transiting through ice up to five-feet thick in this area. The 370-foot tanker Renda will have to go through more than 300 miles of sea ice to get to Nome, a city of about 3,500 people on the western Alaska coastline that did not get its last pre-winter fuel delivery because of a massive storm. If the delivery of diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline is not made, the city likely will run short of fuel supplies before another barge delivery can be made in spring. (AP Photo/US Coast Guard – Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis) NY112
gCaptain has an interesting article that tracks the growth of shipping in the Arctic and accompanying environmental concerns.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Cruise ships are also a concern with the large number of passengers and crew on board and the difficulty of assisting a cruise ship in trouble, the US Coast Guard has been struggling for several years to figure out how to deal with a cruise ship in trouble or how to render aid in case of a health problem with a passenger.
A side note on your picture: the Healy was operating in ice right at it’s maximum rating for thickness. And I was also told the Russia Captain of the tanker was a rude jerk (language cleaned up) to the woman Captain of the Healy, made the transit much harder, more difficult and longer – because of the ice conditions the success of the mission was not assured.
Also the Healy had just completed it’s mission an had started back home to Seattle with plans to be home for Christmas, but they were closer to Santa’s workshop on Christmas Day. Very dedicated crew.