Adverse Effects of Ice and Cold Water on Propulsion Systems

Consistent low temperatures will have a detrimental effect on the working of the ship's machinery. Engineers and engineering crew are responsible for ensuring that the operational parameters of the equipment are maintained, and all concerns with the functionality of the machinery should be addressed.

Cold Weather Effects on Machinery

All machinery fitted to ice-classed vessels should be shielded against the cold temperatures that may affect the operating abilities of that piece of machinery. A failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) should be conducted to ensure that systems can deal with this extreme environmental problem.

For example, a vessel with diesel engines or generators may encounter a situation where the cylinders cannot combust due to the freezing ambient temperatures or even freezing intake temperatures. This is a failure of the air-fuel mixture to auto-ignite due to compression, as insufficient heat is generated to overcome these ambient temperatures. 

Another side effect is that the pressure limits of the cylinder may then be exceeded as the compression fails to ignite the gasses. These problems should be foreseen and correctly mitigated before entering polar waters.

System components such as air preheaters or jacket water heaters must be fitted and working before entering polar waters. The loss of main propulsion would be disastrous for the ship as it would then become liable to be stranded or beset by ice.