Arctic naval launch and recovery operations, under ice impact interactions

Abstract

This study analyses dynamic influence of stochastic vibro-impact ship behaviour on the ship's launch and recovery capability. To deliver cargo and people to the Arctic regions, ships must withstand harsh environmental conditions and interact with large floating ice pieces. This interaction may result in impact-type loading of a ship hull by ice, preventing planned navigation and even causing to abort of some routine launch and recovery operations of delivering cargo or other equipment. The major safety concern is the risk of collision between the payload and the mother ship hull. The ship-based crane, which served for conducting launch and recovery operations, was assumed to be rigid, mimicking the ship dynamics, whereas the payload is modelled as a single-degree-of-freedom pendulum. This study advocates practical engineering approach, applicable to various scenarios with vessels operating in relevant in situ environmental sea and ice conditions. The proposed study intends to contribute to improving launch and recovery operational reliability, as well as motion control, especially in Arctic aquatic regions. When mentioning Arctic and defence technologies, launch and recovery systems have significant relevance for unmanned vehicles onboard ships.