Polar Research Vessel Technical Studies
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Studies 1 though 6 performed by Science and Technology Corporation (STC), and 7 and 8 by U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) External Non-U.S. government site.

  1. Towing in ice—both seismic arrays and nets: Recommend a hull form, stern arrangement, and propulsion system that improves towing in ice.
  2. Bathymetry in ice: Recommend a hull form and appendages that promote improved ice management and reduce bubble sweep down over the acoustic windows for the multi-beam swath bottom-mapping system, sub-bottom profilers, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, fish-finding sonar and other acoustic sensors.
  3. Geotechnical drilling: Recommend a hull form, propulsion system, thruster system, and drilling arrangement for shallow water drilling in land-fast ice and open water.
  4. Establish requirements for a moon pool to deploy and recover Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in ice and consider Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD)/rosette deployment through the moon pool.
  5. Evaluate increased icebreaking capability and evaluate one or more propulsion concepts to satisfy mission requirements and develop a recommendation.
  6. Examine compliance with new International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements for Arctic vessels including the provision for no pollutants to be carried directly against the vessel's outer shell.
  7. Investigate and recommend an approach to improve the ship’s self-generated noise signature and to improve scientific acoustic sensor performance.
  8. Analyze and recommend an approach on methods to reduce emissions from diesel engines and the incinerator.