Dependence of the modern icebreaker fleet from ice conditions on the Russian seas (Eng)

• Main Author: I.O. Dumanskaya
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: LLC Center for Information and Legal Support for the Development of the Arctic 2019
• Subjects: ice conditions; ice cover of the seas; ice thickness; power of the icebreaker; safety of the navigation; sum of the degree-days of frost; geo; envir; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.24411/2658-4255-2019-10052; https://doaj.org/article/311fe874ea2e40e69f2361f9755b86ae

The paper considers the current status of Russian Icebreaker fleet. The potential application of sum of degree-days of frost to characterize easy, moderate and difficult ice conditions in the Russian seas is proved. The restrictions for different ice-class vessels to navigate in easy, moderate and difficult ice conditions are analyzed. It is shown that the power of the modern icebreaker fleet enables to navigate successfully in the Russian seas in conditions of mild and moderate winters, as well as in conditions of severe and extremely severe winters. The analysis of construction and operation of the modern icebreaker fleet in 21st century leads to the conclusion that the real challenge of winter navigation in the non-Arctic seas is not due to ice thickness but due to the increasing number and size of vessels requiring icebreaker assistance.