Increased traffic and interest in arctic regions necessitate measures to ensure the safety and functionality of vessels. Sea-spray icing is one of the significant hazards for small- and medium-sized vessels in polar waters. Ice cover can restrict access to essential parts of a vessel and compromise its stability. Existing deicing measures, such as heat or chemical application and manual ice removal, prove impractical in many cases. Seawater, being abundant and easily accessible during marine operations, has a good potential as a deicing agent, as shown by wave-washing. The present study assesses seawater deicing through a full-scale experiment on a lifeboat docked in a harbor in Northern Norway, with ambient air and seawater temperatures of −8 °C and 3 °C, respectively. A 10-20 mm thick ice layer was created on the boat prior to the experiment. Deicing was performed using the fire protection system on the boat, capable of spraying water on the surface, fed by the ambient seawater and driven by the boat engine. After the 32-minutes experiment a significant part of the ice was melted or washed away, thereby restoring functionality and access to the windows, hatches, lifting hooks and railings. The method was more efficient on the vertical surfaces than on the horizontal ones. Some improvements in the sprinkler system layout and design may enhance the performance of the method.
There has recently been an increase in offshore oil and gas activity in the far north, and it is expected to rise further in the arctic regions. There has also been a substantial increase in tourism, like cruises to Svalbard. The decline of Arctic sea-ice is expected to lead to shorter trade routes through the Arctic. Operations in the Arctic are challenging due to the harsh weather conditions. Ice accretion on vessels can cause blockage of critical systems like the ventilation system and escape doors and cause hazardous working conditions on board due to slippery decks. In extreme situations, a lopsided ice load may lead to capsizing in the case of smaller vessels (Deshpande et al., 2021). Literature provides some studies on medium-sized fishing vessels and offshore platforms (Kulyakhtin & Tsarau, 2014; Ryerson, 1995; Samuelsen et al., 2017; Zakrzewski, 1986). However, there has been little focus on icing-related problems on smaller boats, especially on safety boats onboard cruises, other vessels, and on offshore platforms. These safety boats are usually general purpose built and mandated as per the SOLAS convention (International Maritime Organization (IMO), 1974), and not constructed specifically for cold climate conditions. The Polar Code (International Maritime Organization, 2016) refers to winterization measures for ships sailing in arctic waters but does not specifically focus on the safety boats onboard these ships.