Return to Overview of Three Short Courses > Course 3
Design and Operation of Icebreaking Ships
This short course is designed for engineers who need advanced knowledge to support their work in the field. While this category of engineers will have a good understanding of naval architecture and marine engineering, they will need advanced knowledge to further advance their careers and support their professional work. This “advanced” short course will be focused on advanced topics and emerging technologies on design and operation of icebreaking ships.
This course, consisting of six 3-hour modules, will be delivered through Brightspace, an online learning management system.
Each module is followed by an online quiz. After the successful completion of six quizzes (three attempts and a 70% passing grade for each quiz) and a short survey by November 6, 2026, participants will receive their certificates through the Brightspace system.
Registration fee – $600 CAD/person + HST
Registration deadline – September 23, 2026
Module 3.1 | Polar Environment and Ice Properties –Dr. Robert Frederking– 12:00–15:30 EST, October 19
Module 3.2 | Ship Operations in Ice - Capt. David (Duke) Snider - 12:00–15:30 EST, October 20
Module 3.3 | Resistance and Propulsion in Ice, Part I – Dr. Kaj Riska – 12:00–15:30 EST, October 21
Module 3.4 | Resistance and Propulsion in Ice, Part II – Dr. Kaj Riska – 12:00–15:30 EST, October 22
Module 3.5 | Ice Loads on Ship Structures – Dr. Claude Daley – 12:00–15:30 EST, October 26
Module 3.6 | Design of Icebreaking Ships – Dan McGreer - 12:00–15:30 EST, October 27
Module 3.1 Polar Environment and Ice Properties
This module will provide an overview of the polar environment, formation and evolution of the polar ice cover and the mechanical properties of sea ice, in the context of navigation in ice.
The processes involved in the interaction between the polar climate, ocean currents and the physical geography of the Arctic islands to produce a seasonal evolution of ice conditions will be described. This will include the thermal growth of ice, ocean currents, wind and interaction with fixed shorelines resulting in a mechanically deformed ice cover comprising individual ice floes, ridges and open water. The annual cycle and long-term trends, current and future, will be discussed. The system used by the Canadian Ice Service in characterization of the ice cover into ice regimes useful for navigation will be explained.
The primary factors affecting the physical properties of sea ice will be described. They will be related to the mechanical properties, primarily the bending and crushing strength. These are the underlying properties relating to the resistance and hull loading on ships operating in ice.
Module 3.2 Ship Operations in Ice
This module will focus on four key sections: Polar Code and regulations affecting ice operations, types of in-ice operations, ice accretion and winterization, and polar safety preparation and response.
Polar Code and Regional or Coastal State Regulations Affecting Ice Operations
Review the more operational focused requirements of the Polar Code while introducing the need for awareness of more localized regulations or guidance in ice covered waters
Brief discussion of Canada/Russia/Greenland/USA regulations
Types of in Ice Operations
Independent voyage versus escort/convoy operations; ice management
How ice class limit operations
How bridge teams consider ice class in operations
Use of decisions aide systems such as POLARIS
Ice Accretion and Winterization
Ice accretion risk, avoidance, and mitigation
Basic operational consideration to mitigate cold temperature effects
Brief discussion of winterization
General Polar Safety Preparation and Response
Remote nature of the operating environment
Polar SAR areas and response times
Typical response available
Limited response resources and need for additional self-reliance capability
Crew preparation, cold temperature risks and avoidance.
Module 3.3 Resistance and Propulsion in Ice, Part I
This is the first module of two where the ship performance in ice is described. The first module contains a description of ship progress in ice including the forces involved. Attention is given to level ice and other ice conditions as well as to various operating modes (sailing strength ahead and astern, turning, and operating). Key topics include
Description of ice resistance in level ice and in other ice conditions
Formulation of methods to determine the ice resistance
Effect of snow on resistance and description of hull angles at the bow
Means to decrease the ice resistance
Description of ice performance in ice, especially the hi – v curve and ways to determine this including the TNET concept
Examples of ship performance in ice. Bow propellers and astern performance.
Module 3.4 Resistance and Propulsion in Ice, Part II
This module continues the first Resistance and Propulsion in Ice module. The module will cover
Ship propulsion in ice, propulsion coefficients.
Ship machinery in ice and some special considerations for ice, especially the over-torque.
Ice action on ships in manoeuvring.
Description of ship manoeuvring performance in ice.
Operations in ice for an icebreaker.
Ice model testing; purpose of ice model testing and fitting model testing in a project schedule; principles of scaling; and model ice types and ice model testing types
Challenges in ice model testing, especially friction and compressive strength. Some examples of model testing in ice.
Module 3.5 Ice Loads and Ship Structures
This module will begin with an overview of ice class ship structural requirements, including an historical summary and general description of various current structural rule sets for ice class ships. The focus will then turn to the IACS Polar Class Rules (PC Rules) which are the main world standard for construction of ship intended for operation in polar waters.
The module will describe the general philosophy of the PC Rules, the ice load models and the structural design concepts. Ice load mechanics, as assumed in the rules will be explained. This covers ice strength, especially ice crushing strength (pressure-area models), collision mechanics (Popov-type collision mechanics and hull girder ramming mechanics), and load patch formulations. This is followed by a description of the various components that are checked (plating, framing, web frames, hull girder) as well as the various limit states (bending, shear, buckling). Related factors including material requirements and wear allowances are discussed. The module will then include a demonstration (and student use of) a spreadsheet tool to explore example cases implementing the PC Rules. This will illustrate how structural outcomes depend on various design decisions.
A summary including a discussion of strengths and possible weaknesses of the PC Rules will conclude the module.
Module 3.6 Design of Icebreaking Ships
This module will provide an overview of the key aspects of the design of icebreaking ships.
The lecture will build on the previous modules and will explain how engineering principles are used to develop a fully integrated icebreaker design. The module will cover the following topics:
The different types of icebreakers and how their differences affect their design
The ship design process and the unique aspects of icebreaker design
Icebreaker hull form design
Icebreaker propulsion system selection and design
Factors to consider in vessel arrangement
Winterization considerations