[2023] New in 12.3: Island "Sliding" Mechanic

From the Update Article: https://worldofwarships.com/en/news/game-updates/update-123-seychelles/#technical-updates

Here's a brief video showing you the mechanic in action:

You could stop and reverse, sure. The island pushes you away slightly which allows you to reverse, though you can also go forward as shown in the training room demonstration.