Aker Arctic has been at the forefront of ice model testing technologies for decades, and currently operates a third-generation testing facility (Read more: about the 50 years of ice model testing). Ice model tests can be conducted either at our in-house facility or at the Aalto University ice tank thanks to our co-operation agreement. Our in-house basin is 75 m by 8 m and contains bottom and side viewing windows, providing unprecedented visualization. The Aalto tank is 40 m by 40 m, making it ideal for maneuvering and operational model tests. Both facilities use state of the art technologies to model real ice conditions including first and multi-year level ice, brash ice channels, ice rubble and ridges, floe ice, and first and multi-year ridges.
These facilities combined with our experienced and knowledgeable model testing team can be used to engineer a wide variety of tests to suit our customers’ needs. The types of tests that have been performed in our facilities include:
- Icebreaking performance and power predictions of ships
- Ship maneuvering tests in ice
- Ice load and impact tests of floating and fixed marine structures
- Mooring tests of floating vessels using an underwater carriage
- Dynamic position (DP)
- Loading and offloading operations
- Tests of ice encroachment on artificial islands and ice protection units in shallow waters
- Brash ice melting systems
- Ice formation and melting tests
- Autonomous ship testing
- Testing of multi-vessel operations
- Hull coating friction tests
