This article continues the series of publications devoted to the problem of ensuring iceberg security during exploration drilling in the waters of the Arctic seas. During 2012-2017 Russian Oil Company Rosneft together with Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute and Arctic Research Center (Rosneft R&D institute) conducted 12 complex expeditions both in the seasons of maximum ice cover and open water in the seas of the Russian Arctic. The research was focused on the new environmental (oceanographic/ice/etc.) data gathering and testing of iceberg towing technologies.
Iceberg detection is one of the most challenging topics in the conditions of polar night and bad weather. Ice, wind and fog may significantly decrease possibilities of detection that might be crucial for ice defense. Different means and equipment used to detect ice features might be used but unfortunately there is no “magic pill” for all cases.
The paper presents generalized information on the morphometry and dynamics of icebergs in the southwestern part of the Kara Sea, as well as results of the applicability analysis of different means of icebergs detection. These data make it possible to formulate the requirements for the iceberg detection block of the optimal ice defense system for arctic conditions.
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