Optimization of Ship Operations in Arctic Waters by Application of Sensor Technologies for Ice Detection, De-icing and Weather Data

Several different methods have been tested for ice thickness measurement (photogrammetry, laser, ultrasound), but it has not been possible to develop a sensor that is accurate enough (+/- 2 mm). During the project period, R. Stahl Tranberg AS (formerly Tranberg AS) has completed several development projects that have resulted in products and solutions already in commercial sales. It has been developed: - a method of casting heating cables on deck with energy efficient and efficient disposal on board ships. Such tires may be simple tires with anti-slip surfaces or in a cleaner design for passenger ships. - a heat loss sensor for use in regulating the effect applied for de-icing. The control system is also further developed to read this type of signal, and to treat it in the control loop. The system takes into account a differentiated power distribution depending on input from wind, temperature and ice sensors around the vessel. The product has been granted patent in Denmark. - new mechanical solutions for the heating of a large helicopter platform in a project with Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan. - two new integration capabilities for a control system, including a Power Management System for reducing power consumption. This allows for a simple reduction of power consumption in case of acute power failure. - Several models of heating pads are designed for mounting both above and below the floor grid. One of these products has been delivered to MacGregor in Kristiansand to prevent ice formation around a large crane for use on offshore vessels. The project has worked a lot to map which areas of the vessels are most exposed to cooling and thus the risk of icing so that the heating effect can be directed towards critical areas. This work has included wind measurements at different locations and levels of the vessel, resulting in better tools, as well as the ability to reduce the total consumption of electric power. The PhD fellow has worked on improving algorithms for prediction of ice on vessels. Manually recorded episodes from approx. 1980-2006, with icing on coastguard vessels is quality assured and digitized, and is used to validate the algorithms. The results are published as a POAC conference article (http://www.ntnu.edu/poac15) The PhD fellow has completed and accepted his second publication related to prediction of ice on vessels. Here, measured icing data is compared to modelled values for further development of the prediction algorithm. Throughout the work it is concluded that information about the amount of water from sea spray that creates icing is important. The PhD Fellow's third publication has been published. It focuses on evaluating the different ice models that are used in today's weather forecast. In the evaluation, the models are tested against ice-measurement and other meteorological parameters that affect icing. The fellow's fourth and final publication has been published. It focuses on how to use meteorological models to understand better the mechanisms that lie behind icing situations in the Barents Sea. The PhD student submitted his dissertation in late June, 2017, consisting of a manuscript adapted to the 4 publications. The dissertation was approved and the PhD candidate successfully defended his work Nov 20, 2017. Since wave height is an important parameter in the notification model for icing, verifying wave data waveform data in open sea has been desirable. UiT has developed a prototype that was tested in calm waters in Feb. 2018. In June, the prototype was tested at open sea north of Kristiansund under good conditions with wave heights of several meters, and the results will be published after the end of the project. Due to redirection of the fleet of Troms Offshore, sea spray measurements in the Barents Sea are no longer possible as the fleet now sails in the fjord areas in western-Norway. The post-doc therefore focuses on the continuation of some of the PhD candidate's work. The postdoctoral fellow received a ?Stalder Jacobsen research-abroad scholarship? and attended the Polytechnic University of Milan in Dec-Apr, 2018. He prepared a manuscript for the ESREL 2018 conference that was held in June. He and the former PhD fellow have now published a proceedings-article from this conference. At the University of Tokyo, work continues with the vessel-independent navigation system. The software is developed for portable device installation, and communicates via satellite, 3G mobile, and long distance Wi-Fi (WiMAX), depending on availability. Remote control of vessels via WiMAX has been tested in Tokyo Bay, and several attempts have been successful. Several advanced attempts have been made this spring, but final results are not yet available.

Prosjektet har lyktes med å knytte offshore-næringen opp mot det maritime forskningsmiljøet på en god måte. Dette har skjedd ved utveksling av teoretisk kunnskap i forskermiljøene mot praktisk tilnærming av problemstillinger i næringssammenheng. Dette har resultert i produktutvikling der forskningsmiljøet og produsentene har samarbeidet for å oppnå de ønskede resultatene, både fra et økonomisk og miljømessig synspunkt.

This project is a joint co-operation between Troms Offshore Management AS and Tranberg AS, University of Tromsø, The Meteorological Institute - Tromsø and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. The project is related to winterisation solution s of vessels operating in Arctic waters and involves a planned innovation that entails three main parts: Development and investigation of sensors based on ultrasonic and camera image technologies for ice detection and accretion. Development and investigat ion of new surface technology for efficient de-icing with minimum energy consumption. Integration of onboard sensor data in a decision-support system that can provide the ship officers with an early warning of risk of ice accretion. There are no such ef ficent solutions (products) available to the national/international shipping markets as of today. Tranberg AS considers development of such commercialised products and associated services to be beneficial in its business segment of maritime winterization solutions. Troms Offshore Management AS will be an end-user of such products and services. The universities will benefit from the gained knowledge of novel technologies in their scientific educational programmes.