Improving operational safety during icebreaker operations

The study presented in this paper aims at investigating what safety measures that can be taken to improve the operational safety during icebreaker operations in the Baltic Sea. During icebreaker operations, the icebreaker and the assisted vessel operate in close proximity to each other, a distance which can be even smaller if weather and ice conditions are severe. This poses a severe threat to the operation, since the extremely short distance between the vessels leaves no room for error. The results, which are based on data collected through individual interviews and questionnaires, indicate several possible improvements. Firstly, on a regulatory level, the introduction of an ice navigation certificate for deck officers would set a minimal level of formal competency. Secondly, on a knowledge level, more ice navigation training and better language skills work in favour for the safety. Thirdly, on a technical level, having an electronic chart with target tracking capability increases the efficiency and safety of the passage through ice. In addition to these results, this study shows a need to further research the communication and language situation during icebreaker operations.     

Dynamic ice loads for offshore wind support structure design

For offshore wind farms which are planned in sub-arctic regions like the Baltic Sea and Bohai Bay, support structure design has to account for load effects from dynamic ice-structure interaction. There is relatively high uncertainty related to dynamic ice loads as little to no load- and response data of offshore wind turbines exposed to drifting ice exists. In the present study the potential for the development of ice-induced vibrations for an offshore wind turbine on monopile foundation is experimentally investigated. The experiments aimed to reproduce at scale the interaction of an idling and operational 14 MW turbine with ice representative of 50-year return period Southern Baltic Sea conditions. A real-time hybrid test setup was used to allow the incorporation of the specific modal properties of an offshore wind turbine at the ice action point, as well as virtual wind loading. The experiments showed that all known regimes of ice-induced vibrations develop depending on the magnitude of the ice drift speed. At low speed this is intermittent crushing and at intermediate speeds is ‘frequency lock-in’ in the second global bending mode of the turbine. For high ice speeds continuous brittle crushing was found. A new finding is the development of an interaction regime with a strongly amplified non-harmonic first-mode response of the structure, combined with higher modes after moments of global ice failure. The regime develops between speeds where intermittent crushing and frequency lock-in in the second global bending mode develop. The development of this regime can be related to the specific modal properties of the wind turbine, for which the second and third global bending mode can be easily excited at the ice action point. Preliminary numerical simulations with a phenomenological ice model coupled to a full wind turbine model show that intermittent crushing and the new regime result in the largest bending moments for a large part of the support structure. Frequency lock-in and continuous brittle crushing result in significantly smaller bending moments throughout the structure.     

Classification criterion of narrow/wide ice-resistant conical structures based on direct measurements

Ice-induced structural vibration generally decreases with an increase in structural width at the waterline. Definitions of wide/narrow ice-resistant conical structures, according to ice-induced vibration, are directly related to structure width, sea ice parameters, and clearing modes of broken ice. This paper proposes three clearing modes for broken ice against conical structures: complete clearing, temporary ice pile up, and ice pile up. In this paper, sea ice clearing modes and the formation requirements of dynamic ice force are analyzed to explore criteria determining wide/narrow ice-resistant conical structures. According to the direct measurement data of typical prototype structures, primary quantitative criterion of the ratio of a cone width at waterline (D) to sea ice thickness (h) is proposed. If the ratio is less than 30 (narrow conical structure), broken ice is completely cleared and a dynamic ice force is produced; however, if the ratio is larger than 50 (wide conical structure), the front stacking of broken ice or dynamic ice force will not occur.     

Numerical simulation of level ice impact on landing craft bow considering the transverse isotropy of Baltic Sea ice based on XFEM

Ice bending is a major failure mechanism of level ice when ships and marine structures interact with level ice. This paper aims to investigate the ice bending and ice load when level ice collides on ships and marine structures using numerical simulation method, and compare the numerical results with field test. The fracture of ice is simulated with extended finite element method (XFEM), and cohesive zone concept is used to describe the crack propagation. In order to consider the characteristics of S2 columnar ice, a transversely isotropic elastic material model is used for the ice bulk elements, and a transversely isotropic Tsai-Wu failure criterion is adopted to predict the initiation of cracks. A well-controlled field test of a landing craft bow colliding with level ice in Baltic Sea is simulated to verify the numerical scheme. The ice plate's continuous deformation, crack initiation and crack propagation at different impact velocities and angles are simulated and the results are discussed. In the simulation, the bending crack emerges at the midline of the top surface of ice plate, then propagates towards free boundary, and finally a circumferential crack forms. It is found that with the impact velocity increases, the bending load increases and the fracture size (perpendicular distance from the crack to the contact edge) decreases. And as the angle between the landing craft bow and vertical direction increases, the bending load and the fracture size decrease. The simulated results corresponds well with the field test. The competition between the circumferential crack and radial crack is also found in the simulation and will be discussed in this paper. The results show that this method well simulates the bending of level ice and predict the ice load, and provides a good approach for investigating the mechanism of different forms of level ice fracture.     

Characteristics and potential impacts of under-ice river plumes in the seasonally ice-covered Bothnian Bay (Baltic Sea)

The northernmost basin of the Baltic Sea, the Bothnian Bay, is ice-covered for about half the year. During this time, distinct under-ice river plumes develop, even seaward of the smallest rivers, that are substantially thicker and larger in extent than during the summer months. Wind mixing is negligible, and during late spring in April or May, the highest annual discharge occur while the sea is ice covered, thus providing conditions for the formation of extensive under-ice plumes. These plumes are characterised by high levels of trace elements (e.g., Al, Fe and Zn), organic matter (TOC and dissolved organic carbon [DOC]), nutrients and also optically active substances (colored dissolved organic matter, CDOM). The under-ice plumes provide an important pathway for undiluted transport of land-derived substances to the pelagic waters of the basin, affecting the salinity, chemistry and optical properties of coastal waters. Freshwater ice growth on the underside of an existing sea ice sheet also restricts the buildup of sea ice and under-ice algal communities, potentially in large areas along the coasts. Plume water influences the optical characteristics of coastal waters for a period of time after ice break-up, potentially affecting primary production in these areas. Furthermore, the formation of under-ice plumes potentially has a positive feedback on the ice season length due to freshening of the coastal waters (earlier freeze-up) and restricted oceanic heat flux (slower melting).     

极地船舶吊舱结构冰载荷计算方法研究

该文根据国外船级社规范,初步探索了一套适用于吊舱结构冰载荷应用分析的计算方法.选取典型吊舱作为计算对象,对两种典型冰况作用条件下的吊舱包结构开展有限元计算工作,验证了本方法的工程适用性.与采用挪威船级社和中国船级社新推荐方法得到的吊舱冰载荷计算结果相比,本方法得到的计算结果没有出现非常离散的情况,差别不大.     

Carbon flows in Baltic Sea food webs — a re-evaluation using a mass balance approach

The brackish Baltic Sea has been seen as particularly suitable for studies of food webs. Compared to fully marine ecosystems, it has low species diversity, which means fewer trophic linkages to analyse. The Baltic Sea is also one of the best-studied areas of the world, suggesting that most data requirements for food web models should be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the influence of physical and biological factors on trophic interactions and biogeochemical patterns varies spatially in the Baltic Sea, adding considerable complexity to food web studies. Food web structure and processes can be described and compared quantitatively between areas by estimating the flow of matter or energy through the organisms. Most such models have been based on carbon, though studies of complementary flows of other elements limiting production, such as nitrogen and phosphorus would be desirable. However, since ratios between carbon and other elements are used in calculating these flows, it is crucial, as a first step, to quantify the flows of carbon as accurately as possible.In this study, we used the EcopathII software (ver 3.1) to analyse models of carbon flow through the food webs in the three main areas of the Baltic Sea; the Baltic proper, Bothnian Sea and Bothnian Bay. A previously published study on carbon flow in the Baltic Sea [Elmgren, R. 1984. Trophic dynamics in the enclosed, brackish Baltic Sea. Rapp. P.-V. Reun. — Cons. Int. Explor. Mer. (183) 152–169.] was complemented with the data on respiration and flow to detritus [Wulff, F., Ulanowicz, R. 1989. A comparative anatomy of the Baltic Sea and Chesapeeake Bay ecosystems. In: F. Wulff, J.G. Field, K.H. Mann (Eds.), Flow Analysis of Marine Ecosystems: Theory and Practice. New York: Springer-Verlag.] in order to present complete mass balance models of carbon. The purpose of re-evaluating previous models with new analytic tools was to check how well their carbon flows balance, and to provide a basis for improved mass balance models using more recent data, including nutrients other than carbon.The resulting mass balance networks for the Baltic proper, Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay were shown to deviate from steady state. There was an organic carbon surplus of 45, 25 and 18 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ in the pelagic zones of the Baltic proper, Bothnian Sea and Bothnian Bay, respectively. The Ecopath network analysis confirmed that the overall carbon flow was highest in the Baltic proper, somewhat lower in the Bothnian Sea and much lower in the Bothnian Bay. The only clear differences in food web structure between the basins was that the average trophic level was lower for demersal fish in the Bothnian Sea and higher for macrofauna in the Bothnian Bay, compared to the other basins. The analysis showed weakness in our current understanding in Baltic Sea food webs and highlighted areas where improvements could be made with more recent data.     

破冰型大型航标船线型开发设计及破冰阻力评估研究

结合北海航海保障中心大型航标船的破冰功能需求,为本船选取合理的推进功率,对本船具有破冰功能特点的线型设计进行分析论述,同时运用破冰阻力经验公式对本船在一定冰厚和航速下的破冰阻力进行估算,结合冰池试验结果对破冰阻力数据进行对比分析,并进行冰区航行的快速性评估。     

浮冰冲击作用下的乙烯运输船体 舷侧结构强度分析

对无限航区的21000m3乙烯运输船舷侧结构,分别采用纵骨架式和横骨架式冰区加强设计。根据FSICR规范要求,更新舷侧冰带区域内构件尺寸,并针对艏部冰带区域内船体结构,分别建立了原始的、纵骨架式的和横骨架式的冰带结构设计有限元模型。通过强度计算,认为艏部冰带区新结构满足规范设计载荷要求。在此基础上,单独建立艏货舱冰区舷侧外板板架有限元模型,研究两种新设计形式适用的外板在更大浮冰冲击载荷作用下塑性变形。计算结果表明:纵骨架式结构外板塑性变形明显低于横骨架式。     

Dilated-polyhedron-based DEM analysis of the ice resistance on ship hulls in escort operations in level ice

The ice resistance on ships in escort operations in level ice are investigated using the discrete element method (DEM). A dilated polyhedron—generated by the Minkowski sum of a sphere and a polyhedron—is employed in the DEM; this dilated polyhedron-based DEM (DPDEM) is adopted to simulate the ship–ice interaction, wherein the contact force and bond-failure criterion are considered for the collision and fracture of sea ice, respectively. A three-point bending test was simulated with DPDEM, and a field test was conducted in the Bohai Sea to validate the DEM results. Further, a parametric analysis of flexural strength was conducted to identify the parameters involved in the bond-failure criterion. The ice resistance on icebreakers and cargo ships in level ice are simulated using DPDEM. The simulated ice resistances are compared with the Lindqvist and Riska formulas and the model test, which proves the validity of the DEM simulation. The interaction between ships and level ice is simulated parametrically to investigate the ice resistance on cargo ships with and without the icebreaker escort. Influencing factors such as ship speed, ice thickness, and ship breadth were examined to investigate the ice resistance on the escorted cargo ship. Analysis and change rules of the ice resistance on cargos affected by those factors were given.     

Ballast water management in the Baltic Sea

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), comprising of nine Baltic Sea countries and the European Union, is working to protect the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, including biological pollution from alien species. HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, singed by Contracting States’ environmentministers and EU, includes a Road Map for harmonized implementation and ratification of the International Convention for Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, with an overall aim of all Baltic Sea countries ratifying the Convention latest in 2013.     

Resolving the impact of short-term variations in physical processes impacting on the spawning environment of eastern Baltic cod: application of a 3-D hydrodynamic model

Variations in oxygen conditions below the permanent halocline influence the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea through a number of mechanisms. In this study, we examine the effects of physical forcing on variations in the volume of deep oxygenated water suitable for reproductive success of central Baltic cod. Recent research has identified the importance of inflows of saline and oxygenated North Sea water into the Baltic Sea for the recruitment of Baltic cod. However, other processes have been suggested to modify this reproduction volume including variations in timing and volume of terrestrial runoff, variability of the solubility of oxygen due to variations in sea surface temperature as well as the influence of variations in wind stress. In order to examine the latter three mechanisms, we have performed simulations utilizing the Kiel Baltic Sea model for a period of a weak to moderate inflow of North Sea water into the Baltic, modifying wind stress, freshwater runoff and thermal inputs. The model is started from three-dimensional fields of temperature, salinity and oxygen obtained from a previous model run and forced by realistic atmospheric conditions. Results of this realistic reference run were compared to runs with modified meteorological forcing conditions and river runoff.From these simulations, it is apparent that processes other than major Baltic inflows have the potential to alter the reproduction volume of Baltic cod. Low near-surface air temperatures in the North Sea, the Skagerrak/Kattegat area and in the western Baltic influence the water mass properties (high oxygen solubility). Eastward oriented transports of these well-oxygenated highly saline water masses may have a significant positive impact on the Baltic cod reproduction volume in the Bornholm Basin.Finally, we analysed how large scale and local atmospheric forcing conditions are related to the identified major processes affecting the reproduction volume.     

新型极地科考艇上冰过程的强度分析及可行性研究

新型极地科考船舶、装备的研发,对于极地的探索、开发起着至关重要的效果。主要查询水冰两栖艇的国内外发展现状,根据冰刀原理的启发,设计了这种新型水冰两栖艇及其爬冰方式。通过探讨新型水冰两栖艇的爬冰系统及其设计特点,运用材料失效、瞬态动力学等理论,分析验证水冰两栖艇爬冰的最佳形式。并使用ANSYS Workbench软件建模,验证其能满足爬冰的强度要求。     

51800DWT冰区加强型成品油轮船体结构设计

51800DWT冰区加强型化学品／成品油轮是广船国际自行开发设计的、具有世界先进水平的北极冰区航线成品油／化学品船。该船可满足全球造船业所公认的高等级规范“瑞典-芬兰冰级1Asuper”。本文结合冰区加强结构设计介绍该船的船体结构设计特点。     

On the dynamics of oxygen,phosphorus and cyanobacteria in the Baltic Sea; A model study

Oxygen and phosphorus dynamics and cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea are discussed using results from the Swedish Coastal and Ocean Biogeochemical model (SCOBI) coupled to the Rossby Centre Ocean model (RCO). The high-resolution circulation model is used to simulate the time period from 1902 to 1998 using reconstructed physical forcing and climatological nutrient loads of the late 20th century. The analysis of the results covers the last 30 years of the simulation period. The results emphasize the importance of internal phosphorus and oxygen dynamics, the variability of physical conditions and the natural long-term variability of phosphorus supplies from land on the phosphorus content in the Baltic Sea. These mechanisms play an important role on the variability of available surface layer phosphorus in late winter in the Baltic Sea. The content of cyanobacteria increases with the availability of phosphorus in the surface layers of the Baltic proper and the probability for large cyanobacteria blooms in the model is rapidly increased at higher concentrations of excess dissolved inorganic phosphorus in late winter. The natural increase of phosphorus supplies from land due to increased river runoff since the early 1970s may to a large degree explain the increased phosphorus content in the Baltic proper. Another significant fraction of the increase is explained by the release of phosphorus from increased anoxic areas during the period. These results refer to the long-term variability of the phosphorus cycle. In accordance to earlier publications is the short-term (i.e. interannual) variability of the phosphorus content in the Baltic proper mainly explained by oxygen dependent sediment fluxes.     

艏艉破冰模式极地船冰区划分及冰载荷弯矩剪力对总纵强度的影响

对于首尾破冰模式的极地船舶，规范中并没有详细给出其冰带划分的方法，仅仅提到尾部破冰参考艏部破冰区域划分，但由于船体尾部线型和艏部线型差距较大，故并不能很好的适用，本论文以一艘PC4级110kt极地原油船为例，就此针对尾破冰模式进行冰区带划分。 另外冰载荷产生的弯矩剪力对船体总体强度的影响也在本文中论述。     

A return period based plastic design approach for ice loaded side-shell/bow structures

Based on the design ice load that corresponds to a certain return period, a practical approach for designing the frames behind the side-shell or the bow of a ship subject to ice loading is proposed. Four typical types of section profiles have been selected for modelling and numerical analysis. Non-linear finite element analyses that involve both the geometric and material non-linearity were performed. From the analyses, the relationships between the loads and the beam's cross-section properties were obtained for different permanent set requirements. These relationships were then used for finding the section modulus from which the cross-section of the beam can be decided. Finally, a design example is presented for illustration.     

一种远海油气作业后勤保障的浮式码头概念设计

提出一种基于浮式码头的后勤保障设计，以保障远海油气作业。根据油气作业后勤保障的基本功能需求，对浮式码头的功能体系进行设计，并初步确定主尺度。根据功能模块化体积限制，对船舶进行概念设计，确定浮式码头的主要特性。分析浮式码头的稳定性和系泊要求，对浮式码头概念设计进行数值模型验证。结果表明，浮式码头概念设计可满足我国远海油气作业需求，有望形成一种新型远海油气作业后勤保障的新模式。     

大型油船冰区加强结构设计研究

介绍芬兰-瑞典冰级规范和主要船级社规范对冰级和冰带区域的划分,分析冰载荷及其作用原理。以10.99万吨AFRAMAX成品/原油船为载体,研究结构布置形式及高、低位冰区水线等冰区加强设计难点和对策,指出冰区加强设计中应注意的有关问题,提出冰区航行船舶设计时应遵循的原则,得出IA冰级符号将使船体结构增重1.05%的结论。