Ice Consulting

Are you a shipyard wanting to perform ice breaker performance tests (also known as ice trials)? Our Shipborne Ice Thickness Measurements service is the right fit for you.

Perhaps your organisation operates in particular parts of the Arctic or Antarctic and needs an analyses of previous ice conditions and a professional assessment of the ice risk at particular times of the year? In this case you would need our Ice Analysis service.

Interested in finding out more? Contact us via email at info@driftnoise.com; we'd love to hear from you!

Shipborne Ice Thickness Measurements

Sea ice thickness is an important decision making parameter. For instance, it is important that your newly-constructed ice breaker meets the required performance criteria, such as the ice thickness that it can successfully and efficiently break.

Using our shipborne electromagnetic sounding service, you can receive current ice thickness values on board and in real time, which you can then compare against other ship parameters such as thrust and engine load.

Over the past few years Drift+Noise has supported various polar expeditions in the decision making process related to ice and the environment, including the 2018 ice trials for RV Kronprins Haakon and the 2022 Endurance22 expedition to find Sir Ernest Shackleton's famous ship - Endurance. The short video below shows the orange electromagnetic sounding system (owned by the Alfred Wegener Institute) measuring ice thickness from the bow of a ship.

Ice Analysis

Polar regions are hazardous working environments due to their remoteness and the extreme weather and ice conditions. Being properly prepared is essential for any undertaking in the Arctic or Antarctic. Our experienced and professional ice scientists can provide you with the best possible information and advice when planning your next venture into ice covered waters.

Sea ice analysis of Vanmijen Fjord based upon Sentinel-2 satellite data
Sea ice analysis of Vanmijen Fjord based upon Sentinel-2 satellite data

Our Ice Analysis service comprises in-depth research into your regions of interest and considers a wide range of ice and environment-related parameters from a variety of sources to give you the information you need in order to make an informed decision. Included in the service is the production of a comprehensive report with information about such things as:

  • ice and weather history
  • expected weather conditions
  • ice thickness expectations
  • recent and projected ice drift and dynamics

The report summarises the collected data and provides an expert analysis into the expected conditions for the anticipated time period of your venture. Armed with this information you can confidently assess risk and make good decisions.