A RATIONAL BASIS FOR THE SELECTION OF ICE STRENGTHENING CRITERIA FOR SHIPS

Classification societies and various government regulations provide guidelines for hull strengthening of ice-transiting ships. However, there are inconsistencies among these different guidelines. This report seeks to develop a basis for the rational selection of ice strengthening criteria. Volume 1 examines the differences among ice strengthening cirteria in use by several classification societies and as promulgated in various types of government regulations; compares the different criteria on the basis of relative cost; evaluates the effectiveness of criteria on the baasis of statistical ice damage data; presents a comparison of different materials and techniques used for ice strengthening; and identifies deficiences in current ice strengthening procedures. The volume concludes with a proposed rational basis for selecting ice strengthening criteria and recommendations for further research. Appendices contained in Volume 2 provide such information as monthly maximum and average ice conditions in various regions; tabulations of ice strengthening requirements by a number of classification societies; and a review of methods for ice damage analysis.