Different kinds of offshore structures are designed and built to resist the scenarios of the arctic environment. This paper focuses on different ice load scenarios and the challenges for fixed offshore structures. Model test methods will be presented to assess the suitability of the design for the corresponding environmental scenarios. Measurement possibilities will be explained monitoring the design challenges as ice resistance, vibrations and encroachment of ice. The feasibility of different ice model test setups will be described and the main observations will be presented. The findings of the general phenomena of the resistance and encroachment will be discussed to assist the design process of offshore structures.