Limitations of lifeboats operating in ice environments

Kennedy, Allison Marie (2010) Limitations of lifeboats operating in ice environments. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (7MB)

Abstract

Conventional lifeboats have not been designed to withstand ice loads. It is currently uncertain if these boats have the structural capacity to withstand an ice collision. The main objective of the research reported here is to determine the structural limitations of conventional lifeboats in order to help devise safe operating procedures for lifeboats in ice. -- Three sets of experiments were carried out to gather data required to address the problem of conventional lifeboats operating in ice. Experimentation consisted of material testing of lifeboat fibreglass, laboratory testing of full scale ice impacts, and full scale field trials of a conventional lifeboat in ice. Both the laboratory and field trial results were used in the development of a simple energy model to represent ice loading of a conventional lifeboat operating in ice. The model predictions were compared with material structural limitations defined from laboratory test results. The comparisons provide guidance in determining safe and unsafe operating conditions for a conventional lifeboat in ice. -- There are a number of possible practical outcomes from this research. Lifeboat design methods can be improved, new regulations can be introduced to guide lifeboat manufacturers, and the insight into operational considerations can be incorporated in lifeboat training.

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