Ship Design 



Research by U.S. scientists in Arctic seas, which are 

 seasonally or permanently covered by ice, is severely restricted 

 by the lack of a dedicated research vessel capable of operating 

 in sea ice. Therefore, national Arctic marine interests in 

 the field of biology, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography 

 are not being given the attention required for a thorough 

 understanding of the region and the potential impact of 

 environmental disturbances. Multi-disciplinary studies, 

 logistically supported by suitable ice-worthy ships, are the 

 acknowledged requirement for detailed and long-term examination 

 of these topics. Other nations which have Arctic interests 

 are better equipped in this regard than is the United States. 



The U.S. national concern and responsibility for Arctic 

 marine mammals are most evident in the Bering, Chukchi, and 

 Beaufort Seas, all of which are dominated for several months 

 of the year by sea ice. U.S. scientists have for several 

 years managed to visit these seas when seasonally ice-covered 

 only as guests aboard Soviet or West German ships and 

 occasionally on U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers. Marine mammal 

 species of the region are important subsistence resources for 

 coastal Native peoples. The understanding of their life 

 history, abundance, distribution, and integration into Arctic 

 marine ecosystems requires ready access to their environment 

 throughout the year. Knowledge acquired by this means is 

 essential for intelligent ecosystem and marine mammal 

 management. 



Much of the mammal and bird activity is concentrated at 

 or near the ice edges and in the southern few miles of sea 

 ice. There are some indications that polynyas, areas of open 

 water deeper within the ice, may also be regions of intense 

 biological activity important to some marine mammals. These 

 areas are mostly in first-year ice. Scientific operations 

 within the ice require a sturdy, specially designed ship 

 having an ice-breaking capability and hull strength sufficient 

 to assure its maneuverability and safety. It requires enough 

 endurance to sustain long independent cruises distant from 

 sources of supplies and assistance. It must be able to 

 withstand besetting in dense ice which may occasionally be 

 encountered, and it must also be able to operate in high- 

 latitude open seas. A design intended to satisfy these 

 requirements was developed in 1977-1982 by the National Science 

 Foundation and the Alaska Council on Science and Technology. 



International Arctic Science Committee 



Arctic countries share similar environmental conditions 

 on their northern borders, Native peoples who now are residents 

 of separate nations, expanded access to and development of 



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