Collision Test between Ice Floe and Ship Transiting the Pack Ice

The ships transiting the Northern Sea Route (NSR) have been gradually increased so that the number of ship-ice collision accidents would be increased. The collision between ship and ice floe can lead to serious damage of hulls and decline of ship's maneuverability. In this study, collision tests that a model ship is forced to collide with disk-shaped synthetic ice floes are conducted in a towing tank. The synthetic ice floes made of polypropylene which has similar density with real ice are used. The ice load is measured by a load cell installed on the carriage rod. The ice floe's motion is measured by a motion sensor installed on the synthetic ice floe. The influences of contact conditions such as hull form and ship speed on the ship-ice collision response are investigated and discussed by measured peak force and ice floe's motion.