Sea-ice Pressure Generation and its Effect on Navigation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Area

• Published in: Journal of Navigation
• Main Author: Bradford, J. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1971
• Subjects: Ocean Engineering; Oceanography; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0373463300022359; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0373463300022359

Instances of merchant ships beset in times of ice pressure in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were investigated to study the observed relationship between winds and ice pressure generation. The relative power of the ships reported beset was calculated in an attempt to relate ice pressure severity with ship performance. Most pressure episodes occurred during onshore winds or near the time of major wind shifts. Ice pressure intensity during onshore winds appeared to be related to wind strength and duration and distance from shore. The ‘Mouth of the Gaspé Passage’ area was anomalous.