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Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas
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Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2025 | Viewed by 2269

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chunhui Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Shipbuilding Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
Interests: ice–structure interaction; ice mechanics; computational fluid dynamics; ocean engineering; marine structure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Chao Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Shipbuilding Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
Interests: ice–structure interaction; marine propulsion; computational fluid dynamics; ocean engineering; marine structure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shunying Ji

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: ice loads on polar ship and offshore structures; physical and mechanical properties of sea ice; computational mechanics for granular materials; ice-structure interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The presence of ice in marine environments presents formidable challenges to the design, performance, and operational efficiency of ships. Navigating through ice-covered regions demands specialized strategies and advanced technological adaptations to ensure that both safety and performance are maintained. Research in ice navigation has evolved over the past several decades, drawing from disciplines such as naval engineering, materials science, and environmental studies. From theoretical models to full-scale trials, understanding the impact of ice interactions on ships has grown with advancements in computational simulations and experimental research. As we advance in computational power and interdisciplinary methods, significant strides are being made in modeling ice conditions and ship interactions. Current research focuses on improving model accuracy, understanding the mechanics of ship–ice collisions, and developing real-time monitoring systems to enhance navigational safety and efficiency in icy waters.

This Special Issue focuses on the navigation, performance, and experimental research of ships operating in ice-prone areas. The scope includes investigating ship–ice interactions, optimizing ship design for ice navigation, and enhancing performance through innovative techniques and technologies. We invite submissions that showcase innovative research and developments in ship performance in ice-affected areas. This includes novel modeling techniques, experimental findings, performance optimization strategies, and comprehensive reviews that contribute to a deeper understanding and advancement in the field.

This Special Issue entitled "Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas" seeks to compile pioneering research and insights into the unique challenges and technological advancements in this niche field. We are interested in receiving submissions in a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Ship–ice interaction dynamics;
  • Ice management;
  • Structural strength, safety analysis, and health monitoring;
  • Ice–water–structure interaction;
  • Design innovations for ice navigation;
  • Ship navigation in ice-covered regions and arctic marine operations;
  • Performance assessment and optimization;
  • Real-time monitoring and predictive systems;
  • Environmental impacts and sustainability in ice regions;
  • Safety measures and risk assessment;
  • Case studies and operational experiences in ice navigation.

Dr. Chunhui Wang
Prof. Dr. Chao Wang
Prof. Dr. Shunying Ji
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ship–ice interaction
  • ice–water–structure interaction
  • ice navigation
  • performance optimization
  • experimental research
  • ship design in ice regions
  • safety and risk assessment
  • environmental impact in ice areas

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 20593 KiB  
Article
Comparative Research on Vessel Navigability on the Northern Sea Route Based on the NSR Admission Criteria and POLARIS Methodology
by Long Ma, Sihan Qian, Xiaoguang Mou, Jiemin Fan, Jin Xu, Liang Cao, Bo Xu, Boxi Yao, Xiaowen Li and Yabin Li
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(7), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13071282 - 30 Jun 2025
Abstract
At present, sea ice remains a critical factor affecting the safety of vessel operations along the Northern Sea Route (NSR). However, inconsistencies between the navigability outcomes derived from the criteria for the admission of ships in the area of the Northern Sea Route [...] Read more.
At present, sea ice remains a critical factor affecting the safety of vessel operations along the Northern Sea Route (NSR). However, inconsistencies between the navigability outcomes derived from the criteria for the admission of ships in the area of the Northern Sea Route (NSR criteria) and the polar operational limit assessment risk indexing system (POLARIS) methodology present challenges for navigational decision-making. This study aims to conduct a systematic comparison of the POLARIS methodology and the NSR criteria in evaluating the navigability of independently operating vessels classified as Arc4 to Arc9. Through comparative calculations of navigability and the navigability rates for six ice-class vessels across 27 districts using the two methods, this study reveals the consistencies and discrepancies in their navigability outcomes. Firstly, using the POLARIS methodology, the risk index outcome (RIO) is calculated for six ice-class vessels across 27 districts. For these districts, the navigability threshold is defined when 95% or more of the area exhibits an RIO greater than or equal to zero. Secondly, using the NSR criteria, navigability ratios for six ice-class vessels under varying ice conditions are evaluated. A navigability threshold is defined when 95% or more of the ice conditions in a district are classified as navigable. Finally, a quantitative comparison of the weekly navigability ratios obtained by the two methods is conducted to reveal the consistencies and discrepancies in the navigability outcomes of each ice-class vessel across different NSR districts. The results indicate that the consistency between the navigability outcomes of the two methods decreases with lower vessel ice classes, particularly in September and March. In general, the consistency of performance between the two methods in terms of navigability outcomes deteriorates as the vessel ice class decreases and ice conditions become more complex. This study provides a scientific foundation and data-based support for route planning and real-time decision-making in polar waters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas)
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16 pages, 2211 KiB  
Article
Impact of Convective Heat Transfer on Circular Tube Components in Polar Ships Within Ice-Covered Regions
by Houli Liu, Haiming Wen, Jing Cao, Xueyang Han, Chenyang Liu and Dayong Zhang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(7), 1207; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13071207 - 21 Jun 2025
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Abstract
The upper facilities of polar marine equipment face severe freezing risks in ice-covered regions, necessitating energy-efficient electric heat tracing design. Existing models neglect coupled environmental factors (temperature–wind–humidity), leading to the overestimation of heating power. In this paper, experiment and CFD simulation are used [...] Read more.
The upper facilities of polar marine equipment face severe freezing risks in ice-covered regions, necessitating energy-efficient electric heat tracing design. Existing models neglect coupled environmental factors (temperature–wind–humidity), leading to the overestimation of heating power. In this paper, experiment and CFD simulation are used to study the change of convective heat transfer coefficients of electric tracing circular tube components under the polar coupling environmental conditions of wind speed of 0~8 m/s, temperature of −40~0 °C, and air relative humidity of 10~95%, and the corresponding mathematical prediction model is established. The results show that increasing the wind speed and relative humidity will both increase the convective heat transfer coefficient of the circular tube, while the temperature is inversely proportional to the convective heat transfer coefficient of the circular tube. The convective heat transfer coefficient shows an average growth rate of only 2.8–3.8% as the temperature decreases from −10 °C to −40 °C, which is significantly lower than the effects of wind speed (average growth rate 59–50%) and humidity (average growth rate 7.5–12.7%). When the wind speed exceeds 2 m/s, the growth rate of humidity’s effect on the coefficient increases from 17.82% to 33.96%. Mathematical prediction models can provide certain references for the calculation and design of reasonable heating amounts for anti-icing and de-icing of polar equipment’s circular tube components under ice-covered regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas)
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18 pages, 5615 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation on IceBreaking Resistance and Ice Load Distribution for Comparison of Icebreaker Bows
by Xuhao Gang, Yukui Tian, Chaoge Yu, Ying Kou and Weihang Zhao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(6), 1190; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061190 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 220
Abstract
During icebreaker navigation in ice-covered waters, icebreaking resistance and dynamic ice loads acting on the bow critically determine the vessel’s icebreaking performance. Quantitative characterization of the icebreaking resistance behavior and ice load distribution on the bow is essential for elucidating ship-ice interaction mechanisms, [...] Read more.
During icebreaker navigation in ice-covered waters, icebreaking resistance and dynamic ice loads acting on the bow critically determine the vessel’s icebreaking performance. Quantitative characterization of the icebreaking resistance behavior and ice load distribution on the bow is essential for elucidating ship-ice interaction mechanisms, assessing icebreaking capability, and optimizing structural design. This study conducted comparative icebreaking tests on two icebreaker bow models with distinct geometries in the small ice model basin of China Ship Scientific Research Center (CSSRC SIMB). Systematic measurements were performed to quantify icebreaking resistance, capture spatiotemporal ice load distributions, and document ice failure patterns under level ice conditions. The analysis reveals that bow geometry profoundly influences icebreaking efficiency: the stem angle governs the proportion of bending failure during vertical ice penetration, while the flare angle modulates circumferential failure modes along the hull-ice interface. Notably, the sunken keel configuration enhances ice clearance by mechanically expelling fractured ice blocks. Ice load distributions exhibit pronounced nonlinearity, with localized pressure concentrations and stochastic load center migration driven by ice fracture dynamics. Furthermore, icebreaking patterns—such as fractured ice dimensions and kinematic behavior during ship-ice interaction—are quantitatively correlated with the bow designs. These experimentally validated findings provide critical insights into ice-structure interaction physics, offering an empirical foundation for performance prediction and bow-form optimization in the preliminary design of icebreakers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas)
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15 pages, 7285 KiB  
Article
Research on Sea Ice and Local Ice Load Monitoring System for Polar Cargo Vessels
by Jinhui Jiang, Shuaikang He, Herong Jiang, Xiaodong Chen and Shunying Ji
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(4), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040808 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 441
Abstract
Sea ice and the resulting loads are major safety concerns for vessels operating in ice-covered regions. This study presents a tailored sea ice and local ice load monitoring system specifically designed for polar cargo vessels. The system employs shipboard cameras coupled with a [...] Read more.
Sea ice and the resulting loads are major safety concerns for vessels operating in ice-covered regions. This study presents a tailored sea ice and local ice load monitoring system specifically designed for polar cargo vessels. The system employs shipboard cameras coupled with a DeepLab v3+-based algorithm to achieve real-time ice concentration identification, demonstrating 90.68% accuracy when validated against historical Arctic Sea ice imagery. For structural load monitoring, we developed a hybrid methodology integrating numerical simulations, full-scale strain measurements, and classification society standards, enabling the precise evaluation of ice-induced structural responses. The system’s operational process is demonstrated through comprehensive case studies of characteristic ice collision scenarios. Furthermore, this system serves as an exemplary implementation of a navigation assistance framework for polar cargo vessels, offering both real-time operational guidance and long-term reference data for enhancing ice navigation safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation Performance and Experimental Research of Ships in Ice-Covered Areas)
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