An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an integrated condition monitoring system and method for an ice-going vessel, the system and method for acquiring voyage information and environment information when a vessel sails a polar ocean area.

In order to achieve the objective, an integrated condition monitoring system for an ice-going vessel includes: imaging units installed at a bow, a stern, and left and right sides of the vessel, and imaging an ice environment; and a server monitoring an integrated condition of the vessel on the basis of images taken by the imaging units.

A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established. Where the melting capacity cannot reach ice to continue melting, the vehicle mechanically advances itself toward the surface to establish high bandwidth, bi-directional communication.

A method and a device for protecting an electric motor in a pod unit for propulsion of marine vessels against shaft bending shocks when the blades of the pod propeller hit ice blocks or other hard objects, said motor having a drive shaft, a rotor and a stator, said shocks tending to momentarily bend the drive shaft (3) to such an extent that the rotor (41) will come into contact with the stator. The rotor is prevented from coming in detrimental contact with the stator by providing at least two members, which together form a radial plain bearing having mating arcuate bearing surfaces, which during normal operation of the motor are spaced from one another by a gap and come in contact with one another only at extreme loads with short durations.

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.

A skeg mounts from the stern of a towing vessel and extends below the waterline. A channel in the skeg protects cables for steamers and a source of a seismic system deployed from the vessel. Tow points on the skeg lie below the water's surface and connect to towlines to support the steamers and source. A floatation device supports the source and tows below the water's surface to avoid ice floes. The streamers can have vehicles deployed thereon for controlling a position on the streamer. To facilitate locating the streamers, these vehicles on the streamers can be brought to the surface when clear of ice floes so that GPS readings can be obtained and communicated to a control system. After obtaining readings, the vehicles can be floated back under the surface. Deploying, using, and retrieving the system accounts for ice at the surface in icy regions. In addition, handling the seismic record can account for noise generated by ice impact events.

A skeg mounts from the stern of a towing vessel and extends below the waterline. A channel in the skeg protects cables for steamers and a source of a seismic system deployed from the vessel. Tow points on the skeg lie below the water's surface and connect to towlines to support the steamers and source. A floatation device supports the source and tows below the water's surface to avoid ice floes. The streamers can have vehicles deployed thereon for controlling a position on the streamer. To facilitate locating the streamers, these vehicles on the streamers can be brought to the surface when clear of ice floes so that GPS readings can be obtained and communicated to a control system. After obtaining readings, the vehicles can be floated back under the surface. Deploying, using, and retrieving the system accounts for ice at the surface in icy regions. In addition, handling the seismic record can account for noise generated by ice impact events.

An icebreaking vessel (10) with icebreaking reamers (23a, 23b) at each side and, in connection with the reamers, propellers (24a, 24b) for the propulsion of the vessel. The icebreaking vessel can be formed by attaching a detachable icebreaking bow section (31) equipped with reamers and propellers in connection with them to any such ship (30) which is not an actual icebreaker and which has corresponding joint members for attaching the detachable bow section to the ship.

A marine threat monitoring and defense system and method protects a target vessel in icy or other marine regions. The system uses communications, user interfaces, and data sources to identify marine obstacles (e.g., icebergs, ice floes, pack ice, etc.) near a target vessel performing set operations (e.g., a stationed structure performing drilling or production operations or a seismic survey vessel performing exploration operations with a planned route). The system monitors positions of these identified marine obstacles over time relative to the target vessel and predicts any potential threats. When a threat is predicted, the system plans deployment of support vessels, beacons, and the like to respond to the threat. For example, the system can direct a support vessel to divert the path or break up ice threatening the target vessel.

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.

A marine threat monitoring and defense system and method protects a target vessel in icy or other marine regions. The system uses communications, user interfaces, and data sources to identify marine obstacles (e.g., icebergs, ice floes, pack ice, etc.) near a target vessel performing set operations (e.g., a stationed structure performing drilling or production operations or a seismic survey vessel performing exploration operations with a planned route). The system monitors positions of these identified marine obstacles over time relative to the target vessel and predicts any potential threats. When a threat is predicted, the system plans deployment of support vessels, beacons, and the like to respond to the threat. For example, the system can direct a support vessel to divert the path or break up ice threatening the target vessel.