Affiliation:
1. Naval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
2. Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Hainan Province of Hainan Free Trade Port International Shipping Development and Property Digitization, Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology, Haikou 570100, China
3. Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ship Intelligence and Safety, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
4. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Abstract
The Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS) has been established as a viable framework for assessing operational capabilities and associated risks in polar waters. Despite its inherent suitability for high-latitude territories, ships navigating through seasonal ice-infested waters at lower latitudes also encounter critical safety, environmental, and economic issues exacerbated by the presence of ice. This necessitates a reliable and adaptable methodology that can serve as a reference for devising effective countermeasures. This study evaluated the use of POLARIS in the intricate ice conditions prevalent in the northern navigable waters (channels and anchorages) within Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Sea, located at relatively low latitudes. Using GF-4 satellite imagery, ice conditions were collected, and the POLARIS methodology was employed to calculate Risk Index Outcome (RIO) values for non-ice-strengthened vessels during the winter season of 2021–2022. The results showed that sectors 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11 within the northern part of Liaodong Bay exhibited a higher risk, with sectors 5 and 10 exhibiting the most significant risk, while sectors 1 and 2 demonstrated relatively lower risk levels. The concurrence of these findings with acknowledged ice patterns and local maritime practices confirms the applicability of the POLARIS methodology in saline, seasonally ice-covered seas. Notably, the combination of POLARIS with high-resolution satellite imagery facilitated a more precise and rapid assessment of ice risk, thereby enhancing situational awareness and informing decision-making processes in maritime operations under icy conditions. In addition, this study provides preliminary evidence that POLARIS is suitable for fine-scale scenarios, in addition to being applicable to sparse-scale scenarios, such as polar waters, especially with high-resolution ice data. At the same time, this study highlights the potential of POLARIS as a disaster prevention strategy and a tool for the maritime industry to address ice challenges.
Funder
Program for Scientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University: Research on the Navigability of Arctic Shipping Routes Based on Sea Ice Condition Analysis
Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
Special Projects in Key Fields of Ordinary Universities in Guangdong Province
Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen City
Program for Scientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University
Postgraduate Education Innovation Project of Guangdong Ocean University
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