Article

Safer shipping over ice


by Drift + Noise GmbH - published on 16 October 2019 96 -

Article and Photos by Dr. Lasse Rabenstein

Background

The reduction of the sea-ice cover and predicted ice-free summers in the Arctic within the 21st century holds a large market potential for the Arctic regions. The Arctic Ocean is a shortcut for international shipping lines on three alternative routes: The North-East Passage, the North-West Passage or the Trans-Arctic Route. Furthermore 20-30% of the remaining oil & gas reserves are estimated to be in the Arctic. Finally, the pristine Arctic environment and the adventurous flair of one the world`s last wildernesses attract more and more expedition cruise operators. However, ice-free does not mean that there is no ice. Ice remains the biggest hazard for every Arctic venture. The Polar Code came into force on January 1, 2017, and makes decent ice information mandatory for every activity in Arctic waters.

A need for forecasts

Every ship transporting goods to, from or through the Arctic wants to find the fastest and safest way through or around the ice. Even service ice breakers save considerable amounts of time and fuel when they choose an easy path through the ice opposed to a straight path. Expedition cruise operators promise their passengers an adventurous but safe journey. That means, cruises ships seek the ice, but never want to get trapped in a dense ice cover. Several sources for ice information exist on the market. Unfortunately, sea-ice drifts several kilometres a day and all information on board is already outdated the moment it is available. All Arctic stakeholders are in an urgent need for ice forecasts. Presently there is no high-resolution ice forecast product available on the market.

The Hinlopen Strait in North East Svalbard is a bottle neck for the expedition cruise industry. High resolution ice forecasts would enhance planning capabilitites of cruise ships in that region enormously.

Predictive Ice Images

The concept PRIIMA (=Predicted Ice Images) was developed within an ESA kick-start activity and will deliver ice forecasts with the resolution of a satellite radar image. The concept is pragmatic in the sense that it establishes a helpful product developed in close collaboration with our test users from the field of cargo shipping, research ice breakers and expedition cruises.

PRIIMA in action for the Pechora Sea, Russia. This example shows an animation of 48 hours of predicted ice drift. It is an animation of a Sentinel-1 radar satellite image with driven with model data from the Copernicus Marine Service. It is a perfect tool for skilled ice navigators, but cannot be blindly taken as the truth in all the details.

At present stage the PRIIMA concept was tested with data provided by the Copernicus programme, namely Sentinel-1 SAR images and CMEMS sea-ice forecasts.

What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article IcePad, Smart download and view satellite images of sea-ice

by Drift + Noise GmbH - published on 26 July 2019

Download and view satellite images of sea-ice on your mobile device or PC within an intuitive map-based interface.

0

Article Safe through polar waters with NAUTITEC

by VEUS Shipping - published on 10 September 2019

NAUTITEC conducts Basic and Advanced Polar Code Trainings

0

Video Pilot boarding ship - ice bound harbour.

published on 4 July 2019

An innovative technique to board a sailing ship without any loss of time.

0

Video First day : Shifting berth

published on 6 December 2021

My first movement as harbor pilot, once my training was completed: Unberthing, moving astern to the turning area, then going back astern to another location of the same berth
Nothing special: A very simple video

0

Video MT GRAN COUVA from Sea to Waalhaven, Port of Rotterdam

by Herman Broers - published on 25 February 2021

Awesome video by Herman Broers, "The Rotterdam Pilot".

0

Article German pilots establish the "Pilot Information Assistant - PIA" project

by Ship&Offshore DVV Media Group - published on 5 September 2019

The PIA project of German pilots is a great maritime success story and ensures greater safety and efficiency on German shipping routes. Thus, with no exceptions, all of the approx. 890 German maritime and port traffic controllers could be gathered for use of the PIA system and its PPU.

0

Video Crowley Completes First U.S. Design for Fully Electric Tug with Autonomous Technology

published on 21 April 2021

Crowley Engineering Services has completed a design of the first fully electric U.S. tugboat with autonomous technology -- providing operators a sustainable and high-performing solution for ship assist and harbor services in any port. The Crowley design, powered by the expertise of recently integrated subsidiary Jensen Maritime, leverages a large battery system and power saving technology to operate in a fully electric mode while producing zero air emissions or greenhouse gases. The 82-foot...

1

Video Maritime Pilot - Stopping the ship - Episode 6

by Dr. Captain Ahmed Sati - published on 2 September 2024

Can the #ship just #hit #breaks to #stop?

0

Article New Zealand: Pilot Training requirements were reviewed afer accident

published on 16 October 2021

Pilot Training requirements were reviewed afer the ship hit the seabed amd tugs damaged in Bluff Harbor.
South Port in Bluff has accepted the Transport Accident Investigation Commission's recommendation and reviewed its systems.

0

Video The historical Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter - Part 1

published on 1 September 2020

Many consider the Bristol Channel pilot cutter to be the finest sailing boat design ever. Fast, seaworthy and beautiful to behold, the pilot cutter is the perfect combination of form and function - a thoroughbred perfectly adapted to a life in one of the Britain's most treacherous stretches of water. Sailor and writer Tom Cunliffe explores the life of the pilots and sails a perfectly restored cutter to find out just what drove these men and their wonderful machines.

0