The Arctic presents some of the most demanding conditions for offshore engineering, with sea ice, low temperatures, remoteness and fragile environments. This course deals with the physics and mechanics of sea ice, how ice interacts with structures and the methods used to design offshore structures for Arctic waters. It sets out the technical contrasts between the Arctic and milder offshore regions, the physical and mechanical nature of sea ice, porosity, salinity, viscoelastic-plastic response and the influence of loading rate and scale, and how ice conditions and structure form govern the way ice fails. It then shows how global ice actions on vertical and sloping structures are calculated using ISO 19906 methods, applied in a design exercise for an Arctic sea area. Dynamic ice-structure interaction regimes, frequency lock-in and beam and plate models for ice sheets follow, before the course closes with ships and platforms designed for ice loads, Arctic operational experience and Arctic oceanography and meteorology.
Course at a glance: Duration 20 hours · Self-paced online · Level: Intermediate · 9 sections, 32 lessons, a 133-page downloadable course book
What you will learn
- Explain what makes Arctic offshore engineering technically different from temperate environments.
- Analyse how sea ice physical properties, porosity and salinity govern its mechanical behaviour.
- Explain viscoelastic-plastic behaviour, strain-rate effects and size effects in ice.
- Classify Arctic offshore structures and relate geometry to governing ice failure modes.
- Calculate global ice actions on vertical and sloping structures using ISO 19906 methods.
- Explain dynamic ice-structure interaction regimes and frequency lock-in.
- Apply beam and plate modelling concepts to ice sheets and evaluate Arctic operational considerations.
Inside the course: a high-level summary, section by section.
Course scope and the Arctic context
The course begins by defining the field, distinguishing the Arctic from the Antarctic and explaining why the Arctic has become strategically important for energy, shipping and research. A recurring question is how the Arctic differs, in engineering terms, from temperate seas: the presence of sea ice and icebergs, extreme cold, long periods of darkness, limited infrastructure and sensitive ecosystems. The learning path moves from ice physics to loads, dynamics and operations.
Sea ice properties and behaviour
Sea ice is a complex material. Its physical properties are explained, including crystal structure, density, temperature and salinity. Through the thickness of a sheet the temperature changes roughly linearly, whereas salinity varies sharply with depth in young ice and evens out as brine drains with age. Porosity, determined by brine and air volume, strongly influences strength: more porous ice is weaker.
Ice is described as a visco-elasto-plastic material. At low loading rates, it creeps and deforms in a ductile manner; at high rates, it behaves elastically and fails in a brittle way. Strain rate therefore has a major effect on strength and failure mode. The size effect explains why the average pressure over a large contact area is usually lower than over a small one, because local high-pressure zones do not occur simultaneously across the whole contact.
Ice regimes and structure types
Ice regimes describe the type of ice a structure will encounter, from first-year level ice to multi-year ice, ridges and icebergs, and these regimes set the design context. Arctic offshore structures are classified by type, including gravity-based structures, caissons, artificial islands, monopods, jackets and floating units, each with different exposure to ice. Ice failure modes against structures include crushing, bending, buckling, splitting and creep, and the governing mode depends strongly on structure geometry and ice conditions.
Design ice actions
Design events and scenarios define the ice conditions a structure must withstand, including extreme-level and abnormal-level ice events. For vertical structures, ice typically fails by crushing, and the course explains how ISO 19906 methods relate global crushing load to ice thickness, structure width and a pressure-area relationship. For sloping structures, such as cones, ice fails in flexure as it rides up the slope, which generally reduces global loads compared with vertical structures, although ride-up and rubble accumulation must be considered. A design exercise for a structure in an Arctic sea area applies these methods to a realistic case, followed by an assignment that develops independent design judgement.
Dynamic ice-structure interaction
Ice-structure interaction can excite significant vibration. The course outlines canonical dynamic regimes: intermittent crushing at low ice speed, where loads build up and release in a saw-tooth pattern; frequency lock-in at intermediate speeds, where ice failure synchronises with a structural natural frequency, producing sustained vibration; and continuous brittle crushing at high speeds, where loads become random. The mechanics of frequency lock-in are explained, together with its implications for fatigue, equipment and personnel.
Beam and plate models for ice sheets
An ice sheet bending against a sloping structure or loaded by a vessel can be modelled as a beam or plate on an elastic foundation, where the water provides buoyant support. The course introduces beam models for ice sheets, plate theory foundations and the governing equations and boundary conditions, which explain characteristic lengths and the location of cracks.
Ships, platforms and Arctic operations
Ships and platforms designed for ice loads are reviewed, including ice-strengthened hulls, icebreaking bows and ice-resistant platforms. Arctic operations draw on experience from areas such as offshore Sakhalin, where platforms have operated in seasonal ice, highlighting logistics, ice management, winterisation and emergency response. Arctic oceanography and meteorology, including ice drift, currents, low temperatures, wind and visibility, complete the course. These environmental factors shape not only the design loads but also operating windows, escape and evacuation arrangements, and the reliability of equipment and people. Practical experience consistently shows that successful Arctic projects treat ice engineering, logistics and human factors as one integrated problem rather than separate specialist tasks.
Why this matters in practice
Ice loads can govern the design of Arctic structures and vessels, and underestimating them, or overlooking dynamic interaction, can lead to damage, downtime or failure. Engineers who understand ice properties, failure modes and code-based methods can contribute to safe, economical designs and assess the feasibility of Arctic projects. The same understanding is relevant to sub-Arctic regions, ice-covered lakes and rivers, and to wind farms and coastal structures in seasonally frozen seas such as the Baltic.
Key takeaways
You leave able to explain sea ice physics and mechanics, classify Arctic structures and ice failure modes, calculate global ice actions with ISO 19906 methods, describe dynamic ice-structure interaction and apply beam and plate concepts to ice sheets, with an appreciation of Arctic operations.
How you study
The course is delivered fully online and is self-paced, so you can fit roughly 20 hours of study around professional commitments. Lessons combine clear explanation with examples, diagrams and short interactive checks, and the main sections end with graded quizzes (7 in total) so you can confirm you can apply each method before moving on. A 133-page course book can be downloaded and printed for offline reading and later reference.
Course contents
- Arctic Context and Scope: Why Arctic Engineering Matters; Course Scope and Learning Path
- Ice Physics and Mechanics: Physical Properties of Sea Ice; Porosity, Salinity, and Strength; Visco-Elasto-Plastic Behaviour; Strain Rate and Size Effect
- Structures and Failure Modes: Ice Regimes and Design Context; Classification of Arctic Structures; Failure Modes Against Structures
- ISO 19906 Ice Actions: Design Events and Scenarios; Vertical Structure Crushing Loads; Sloping Structure Flexural Loads; Chukchi Sea Design Exercise; Chukchi Sea Assignment
- Dynamic Ice-Structure Interaction: DISI Overview; Canonical Dynamic Regimes; Frequency Lock-in Mechanics
- Beam and Plate Modelling: Beam Models for Ice Sheets; Plate Theory Foundations; Equations and Boundary Conditions
- Structural and Industry Design: Ships and Platforms for Ice Loads; Arctic Operations and Sakhalin Experience; Arctic Oceanography and Meteorology
- Summary: Key Takeaways
Who this course is for
This intermediate course is for engineering graduates and practising offshore, structural, naval and civil engineers working on, or moving into, Arctic and cold-region projects. Learners should have an engineering degree or similar experience and a grounding in solid mechanics and structural analysis. No prior Arctic or ice engineering study is assumed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Arctic Offshore Engineering Part 1 take?
The course is designed for about 20 hours of study. It is self-paced and fully online, so you can spread it over a few weeks or complete it more quickly.
What is covered?
The course is organised into 9 sections with 32 lessons, moving from foundations to applied methods, as summarised above.
Is there material to keep after the course?
Yes. A downloadable 133-page course book accompanies the lessons for offline reading and later reference.
How is progress checked?
Each main section closes with a graded quiz (7 in total). The quizzes test understanding of the concepts and methods explained in the lessons rather than memorisation, and you can review the relevant lessons before attempting them.
Can I record this study for my own professional development?
Yes. The course notebook includes a self-assessment of the course objectives before and after study, a reflection page and a learning log, which you can use to keep your own record of professional development.
Level: Intermediate
Duration: 20 hours
Related courses: D12 – Arctic Offshore Engineering Part 2; D01 – Offshore Engineering Fundamentals; D06 – Structural Dynamics; D07 – Safety in Offshore Engineering
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Study at your own pace and work through the full course material, worked examples and section quizzes. Enrol in D11 – Arctic Offshore Engineering Part 1 →
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