This project studied how ice affects floating offshore structures. This information is very important for builders of robust technology, which is necessary for sustainable exploration and exploitation of the Arctic.

The energy resources of the Arctic regions will doubtless eventually be exploited. An important goal will be to exploit these resources in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, which have been used successfully in the North and Norwegian seas.

The exploration and exploitation of these resources significantly challenges industry, especially when it comes to assessing and managing risks throughout the production chain. This includes preventing disruptions caused by potentially avoidable accidents and minimizing costs arising from adverse environmental impacts.

The fieldwork took place in the waters north-east of Greenland where the ice conditions are challenging due to the presence of icebergs and multi-year ice that drift at high speed.

Upward-looking sonars were used to gather data on ice thickness and ice drift speeds. We also used electromagnetic antennas and a system of video cameras to monitor the ice and study ice-ship interaction. Modern technologies such as satellite sensors, micro drones, and 3D/360˚ camera systems were deployed to characterize icebergs, and multi-beam sonar was used to map the seabed.

The scientific scope of OATRC 2013 was relatively broad and a great many research activities were carried out. Among other activities, we retrieved three moorings with upward-looking sonars and current meters, which were deployed last year during OATRC 2012. Unfortunately, one mooring was lost. Four new moorings were deployed this year. We performed an extensive ice station where we studied the mechanical properties of sea-ice and ice ridges. An iceberg database was compiled.

The data collected during OATRC 2013 are available to Sustainable Arctic Marine and Coastal Technology (SAMCoT) researchers and the findings will be published in international conferences and scientific journals.