Correlation between bow ice loads and operational responses during ice navigation in the Weddell Sea

In this era of digitalization, the increasing ability to analyze and display data in real-time, progressively enables monitoring services towards operational insight. In the light of this, full-scale measurements on the SA Agulhas II polar supply and research vessel were interrogated. These full-scale measurements comprise ice conditions, ice loads and structural vibration on the hull and propulsion system. The statistical distributions and underlying correlations between full-scale data and operational parameters are considered. Ice loads are measured with a permanent hull-installation. The correlation between ice load measurements and mobile accelerometer measurements is investigated in order to assess if hull measurements could be inferred at new hull locations. A correlation is shown between mobile acceleration sensors and ice loads at the bow, however, the correlation is not sufficient to allow for a conclusive prediction of ice loads from operational measurements. It is found that the first lateral bending mode is excited by ice passage. Furthermore, it is suggested that improved fidelity of ice condition data and the correlation of full-time histories may offer improved results.