US weather: Icebreakers sent to Hudson river as bitter temperatures disrupt shipping routes

Cold weather has frozen key shipping and ferry lanes solid

A boat travels across the Hudson River towards Manhattan island in New York City (AP)

The US coastguard has had to deploy icebreakers on New York's waterways to keep shipping and ferry traffic running.

Although the northeastern US is used to cold winters, conditions have been particular icy in early 2015.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sturgeon Bay breaks ice in the shipping channel on the Hudson River near Catskill, N.Y (AP)

Ice in rivers and waterways, including New York's iconic Hudson River, have caused serious travel disruption.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sturgeon Bay breaks ice in the shipping channel on the Hudson River (AP)

New York City relies on ferries to keep moving and ice build-up from sustained cold weather has brought services to a halt at points in recent weeks.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sturgeon Bay breaks ice in the shipping channel on the Hudson River in New York state (AP)

Temperatures have been consistently below zero for weeks, plummeting further at night.