New test basin for experimental studies on oil spill in ice

The Hamburg Ship Model Basin has converted one of its ice tanks into an environmental test basin for cold regions. The test basin is 30 m long, 6 m wide and 1.5 m deep. Special features of the basin are ice making facilities that can achieve 2 mm/h of ice growth, a mobile wave generator, a current device which is used together with a longitudinal bulkhead to operate the basin as a circulating water channel, and oil recovery devices. Typical sea ice conditions which can be simulated include homogeneous level ice of constant thickness, pack ice fields, rafted ice, and pressure ridges. A joint industry research program has been proposed to investigate weathering, fate, and spreading of various oils in different ice conditions with and without currents. Laboratory testing will also be dedicated to the development of suitable techniques for combatting oil spills in ice-covered areas. 2 figs