CMS Earns Award for Ice Management Simulation

The Marine Institute’s Centre for Marine Simulation (CMS) has received the Arctic Shipping North America Innovation Award 2015 for their ground breaking work in ice management simulation. Captain Chris Hearn, Director of CMS picked up the award during the recent Arctic Shipping Forum in St. John’s, NL

Friday, November 27, 2015

“CMS has been involved in ice management simulation for nearly twenty years and during that time we’ve made a real impact across the ocean sectors,” said Captain Hearn. “This award speaks to the expertise of our people and sophistication of our equipment and technology which have allowed us to conduct important research, train industry personnel as well as work with partners to analyze planned operations and identify risk related to harsh environments.”

The ASF Arctic Shipping North America Innovation Award is presented annually to the company or individual that has developed the most innovative idea which benefits the Arctic, either through a new technology, environmental practice or service to Arctic communities.

“The Centre for Marine Simulation is focused on improving the safety and efficiency of offshore operations in harsh maritime environments,” said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president, Memorial University (Marine Institute). “I am very proud of the work Captain Chris Hearn and his team continue to do and on behalf of everyone at the Marine Institute wish to congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”

Since 1996, the Centre has offered an ice training program to shipping companies operating in the Arctic. Making use of advanced ice modelling and its geographic database modelling, CMS also works with organizations to analyze planned operations and identify risk in icy waters. Additionally, the Centre is an avenue for the trialing of various types of technology.

In 2013, CMS started the Dynamic Positioning in Ice Environments project – a five year joint-industry project with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Kongsberg Maritime. The goal is to carry out the development of Dynamic Positioning technology to assist with drilling and exploration in ice covered waters. Most recently, CMS welcomed the new Hibernia Offshore Operations simulator which will be an important part of the Centre’s work in ice, in particular towing ice bergs.

“We continue to expand our capabilities, particularly as it relates to ice management,” continued Captain Hearn. “With the new Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator, CMS will make use of the ice modeling underway through the DP in ice project to develop more advanced scenarios of towing ice in variable conditions and sea states, including towing iceberg in pack ice conditions.”

Presented annually, the ASF Arctic Shipping North America Innovation award was judged by an independent panel of leading Arctic specialists including, Craig Eason, Deputy Editor, Lloyd's List; Morten Mejlaender-Larsen, Discipline Leader, Arctic Operations and Technology, DNV GL; and RADM Robert C. North, USCG (retired), Maritime Consultant, The Marshall Islands Registry.