MEETING THE CHALLENGE, RESEARCH VESSEL SUPPORT IN THE ARCTIC

Oceanographic exploration of the Arctic Ocean and its peripheral seas by U.S. marine scientists has been severely restricted by the lack of a dedicated research vessel designed and equipped for operations in th e extreme environmental conditions of that region. U.S. Coast Guard an d foreign icebreakers and research ships have provided limited access to the Arctic, but long term investment in sustained investigations ha s been discouraged by lack of a national commitment to a coherent logi stic program. Responding to a long-expressed need for improved access to the Arctic for marine research, a design project for development of an arctic research vessel (ARV) was initiated in 1988 by the Universi ty-National Oceano-graphic Laboratory System (UNOLS). Conceptual and p reliminary designs for the ARV, including engineering and model testin g, have been produced by a leading naval architectural firm and consul tants in collaboration with a UNOLS-appointed design committee. The pr oduct of these efforts calls for a research vessel capable of navigati ng through seasonal sea ice and having sufficient hull strength and ma neuverability to sustain extensive operations in multiyear arctic ice. For traverses deep within the Central Arctic Basin, it would be escor ted by a more capable icebreaker. The ARV hull incorporates a modern d esign with bow reamers and configurations for efficient icebreaking an d propeller protection. Model tests confirm predicted superior perform ance in sea ice and open water.