A bipod for use in ice prone offshore environments comprising a deck connected across a pair of members, each member having a neck, and angled portion disposed at the sea surface, and a base secured to the seafloor. The base is secured using a gravity-based system or pilings. An interior zone is defined between the pair of members which is maintained largely free of ice and provides ready access to the sea surface for resupply or emergency egress.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features comprising a protective harbor wall, a flotation support, a pile, and a telescoping connection. The telescoping connection is operatively coupled to the protective harbor wall and the flotation support and constructed and arranged to axially move the protective harbor wall between a retracted position and a raised position. The protective harbor wall is constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features. The flotation support supports the protective harbor wall and is constructed and arranged to change net buoyancy of the modular protective structure to submerge the structure such that the flotation support is positioned on a seabed. The pile is constructed and arranged to be partially disposed in the seabed to maintain the position of the flotation support on the seabed.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

Described are ice shields and methods for protecting tower-mounted equipment. An ice shield assembly can include an ice shield. The ice shield can include a base, a blade structure attached to the base, at least one support member on each side of the blade structure attached on a first end to the blade structure and on a second end to the base, and a beam attached to at least one of the base, the blade structure, and the support members. The ice shield assembly can include a mounting bracket engaged with the beam that can permit vertical translation of the ice shield with respect to the mounting bracket. The ice shield can include a shock absorber configured to arrest relative motion between the ice shield and the mounting bracket by dissipating kinetic energy in the ice shield assembly.