Lifeboat operational performance in cold environments
Shipping and offshore petroleum industry operations in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions have to account for an environment characterized by cold temperatures, remote locations, and a wide range of sea ice cover. To do so successfully, environmental factors must be addressed at the concept design stage....
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
2007
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=9aaf4014-d976-43f6-bba9-afe63ddac061 https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=9aaf4014-d976-43f6-bba9-afe63ddac061 https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=9aaf4014-d976-43f6-bba9-afe63ddac061 |
| Summary: | Shipping and offshore petroleum industry operations in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions have to account for an environment characterized by cold temperatures, remote locations, and a wide range of sea ice cover. To do so successfully, environmental factors must be addressed at the concept design stage. The environment affects operations on multiple levels: special structural design and steel grades to withstand ice loads under cold temperatures; robust propulsion systems to ensure reliability under propeller-ice interaction; winterization measures such as heating, insulation of fire mains and cooling water pipes, arrangement of access ways, icing, and extended low light conditions; and the human factors of working in a cold, remote, dark environment for extended periods. Design and operation in such environments requires special knowledge, skill and technology. This applies as well to the design and operation of the vessels' safety systems, including evacuation craft. An evacuation scenario must be executed in the ice conditions that prevail at the time of the emergency. In order to design an appropriately robust emergency response capability, it is essential to know what to expect of evacuation systems in terms of their utility in the presence of ice. This paper presents the results of an experimental campaign that investigated the performance capabilities of several lifeboats in ice. A series of model scale experiments was done in an ice tank to examine the effects of ice concentration, floe size and thickness on the lifeboats' abilities to launch and make way through the ice. Three different hull forms were tested to see how changes in shape might change performance. Likewise, changes in the delivered power were investigated in terms of simple performance benchmarks. Conclusions drawn from the model tests are presented and discussed. Peer reviewed: Yes NRC publication: Yes |
|---|