Why the Second Pacific Squadron could not use the Arctic route

The Russian squadron lacked enough large icebreakers, fuel support, and reliable ships for the Northeast Passage, even though a later German raider crossed with three Soviet icebreakers.

Question

Could the Second Pacific Squadron have reached East Asia faster through the Northeast Passage with icebreakers?

Short answer

No; Russia lacked sufficient large icebreakers and logistics, and the squadron risked breaking down or becoming trapped.

Notes

The northern route was far less open in 1904 than it is under modern climatic conditions. Russia did not possess enough icebreakers large enough to clear the squadron through the pack, and the slow passage would create severe fueling and mechanical risks. Japanese observation might be harder, but ships stranded or broken in the Arctic would never reach the war. A later correction notes that the German raider Komet did use the Northeast Passage, but only with an escort of three Soviet icebreakers, underlining the infrastructure the Russian battlefleet lacked.