We slow the boat down. A couple knots slower can help exponentially. Otherwise we bust ice manually every few hours before it gets out of control.
The AIVIQ has an ABS notation of CCO-POLAR (TDST -40, TMAT -50). The AIVIQ was designed to operate in -50F temperatures. Whether or not she actually does is another story. As I recall it has heaters for the helio pad and external ladderways.
I believe Harvey Gulf’s vessels have heated treads for their ladders.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;165061]AIVIQ doesn’t really work all that much at anything, much less icing conditions.
The Arctic Alaska drilling season does not start until after icing conditions are over for the season, and it ends just as icing conditions begin for the winter. Thus far, it’s not much of an issue.
The Bering Sea fishing fleet experiences a lot of icing conditions all winter long.
The Great Lakes fleet, and even New England, also experience significant winter icing conditions.[/QUOTE]
The AIVIQ is currently on her way to the Chukchi Sea already, and there’s still a fair bit of sea ice at the moment. But indeed, all in all icing should be less of an issue at this time of year.