On a Decision-support System for Early Warning of the Risk of, and Growth-rate of, Icing on a Ship?s Superstructure

Abstract

Arctic regions represent a challenging environment for marine operations and icing of the superstructure on ships and rigs constitute one of these challenges. Icing on ships and structures can either be generated from atmospheric processes or from sea spray driven by wind or ship-wave interaction. A research and development project at the University of Tromsø has been initiated in order to develop a decision support system that is meant to give the ships offices an early warning of the risk and growth rate of icing. In this thesis relevant icing aspects of such a decision support system are discussed. These aspects include a discussion of relevant rules and regulations, icing mechanisms, icing criteria, icing effects and transverse stability effects. Based on these aspects a proposal for a GUI for a decision support system is given together with proposal for further work.