Marine Operations in Arctic conditions

Abstract

Marine operations require careful early planning and thereafter detailed planning prior to project execution. The time from initiating an operation to finalization of the activity is typically several days. The activity can only be conducted during limited weather conditions. The planning prior to the offshore operations does, therefore, require accurate weather forecasting. The weather conditions may be of particular concern for operations in Arctic waters. During the season when polar low pressures can be expected in the Arctic, reliable weather forecasts exceeding one day may not be available. The paper will discuss the planning procedure to ensure safe operations and will discuss the reliability of arctic weather forecasts with emphasis on uncertainties related to polar low pressures. The main contribution of the paper is to document that the time between polar low pressures passing a location could be short, necessitating good communication with meteorologists. The effect of polar low pressures on fishing operations is, furthermore discussed. If possible, the fishing fleet should leave an area when the track of a polar low may pass a site.