Ice load monitoring system is developed

A three-year research project initiated by DNV has led to the development of an ice load monitoring system that provides bridge personnel with real-time information about the actual ice loads on a ship’s hull and shows satellite information about the ice integrated into electronic navigation maps.

Shipping activity in ice infested waters is increasing, and seasonal variation, combined with the effects of climate change, can open up new business opportunities, notes DNV, but ship and crew are placed at risk if the actual ice loads experienced on a voyage exceed those the ship was designed to withstand.

DNV is developing technological solutions to ensure that Arctic operations are safe and environmentally sound. The project culminated with the development of a comprehensive decision support tool for transiting ice that has been tested over the last two winter seasons on board the Norwegian coast guard vessel, Svalbard.

The system includes fibre optic sensors that measure shear strain on a hull and electromagnetic equipment which measures ice thickness at the bow. This information is analysed and displayed on the bridge. In addition, meteorological and satellite data about the ice is integrated into electronic charts, allowing for optimum route selection. The project is believed to be the first to monitor actual ice loads to be presented in real-time on the bridge as a part of a decision support system. The equipment is ready to be installed on both newbuildings and as a retrofit.

The ice load monitoring project was supported by the Norwegian Research Council, and other partners were Teekay, StatoilHydro, Light Structures, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute, C-Map/Jeppesen and the Norwegian Coastguard. OSJ