Navigation in ice and icing of vessels in the South-Eastern part of the Baltic sea

• Main Author: Dubra, Vytautas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: South-eastern Baltic Sea; sea ice; icing of vessel; navigation; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://lajm.lvb.lt/LAJM:ELABAPDB81019757&prefLang=en_US

The South-eastern part of the Baltic Sea is rather an unfavourable place for the sea navigation in late autumns and winters because of ice formation. Besides, ships and their equipment in the sea are affected by icing on vessels’ structures in frosty and hydrometeorologically disadvantageous conditions. Consequently, the mentioned superstructure icing can highly impair the stability and safety of the ships. The purpose of the research is to analyse collected available data from the near coastal hydrometeorological conditions, discuss the factors that influence the superstructure icing of vessels and observe the possibilities for navigation of the sea -going vessels and open sea terminals in ice. The major attention in the research is paid to the Lithuanian pa rt of the Baltic Sea where two significant ports are situated: The Port of Klaipeda and the single-point-mooring (SPM) type open sea oil terminal in Būtingė. Long-term data from Klaipeda meteorological station in Melnragė (the suburb of Klaipėda) has been taken for investigation and prediction of the phenomena of icing of vessels and ice formation in the sea water. The continuous observation of hydrometeorological data during the period of 1959/60-2019/20 is the key to verify the existing very special circumstances that cause issues of the ice formation and the icing of vessels in the South -eastern part of the Baltic Sea ports in Lithuania. There are specific factors and statistics provided in the article that determine and prove the causes of the phenomena: calibration of water and weather temperature, prevailing winds, precipitation and the level of water evaporation. Generally, the scientific analysis of the research could be further used to determine, decide on measures that should be taken to avoid dangerous situations and lessen the existing problems in the operation of the ports.