The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Kopit Hopson 1752 is working this week along the coast of Labrador. (Patrick Callaghan/CBC)

An icebreaker continued work Friday along the Labrador coastline and the federal government is warning people to stay away for their own safety.

The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Kopit Hopson 1752 is in the midst a three-day long operation around Lake Melville and is expected to conclude on Dec. 28.

“The icebreaker is in the area to support the year-end ferry operations and will be leaving an open water track behind it as it transits the area,” said a statement.

“Please stay a safe distance away from the vessel and its track as cracks can extend for quite some distance from the vessel as it moves.”

The department said that ice can react in unpredictable ways during icebreaking and is asking people to avoid walking on the ice or going near the icebreaker or its tracks.

“[Crews] cannot have absolute control of the behaviour of the ice. Depending on various conditions, the ice can be pushed instead of broken and ice can crack or break far away from the location where the icebreaker is working,” the statement said.

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