Overview of the 2012 Iceberg Profiling Program

Abstract In June of 2012, a 25-day field program was carried out off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador with the objective of obtaining high quality 3D profiles of both grounded and freely floating icebergs. The motivation for collecting the data was to provide valuable information relating to the design of offshore platforms in iceberg-prone environments. Specifically, the data was originally acquired to provide insight regarding contact area growth as a function of penetration during a simulated impact with an offshore structure, and to assist in assessing the risk of topsides impact. The above water portion (sail) of the icebergs were profiled using photogrammetry while the below water portion of the icebergs (keel) were profiled using a multibeam system mounted on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The drift and rotation of the iceberg during the profiling process was derived using the above water photogrammetry, and was used to correct the below water multibeam data to account for the motion of freely floating icebergs. The drift and rotation was also used to merge the above and below water portions of the iceberg. An overview of the program and resulting data set is presented in this paper. Ultimately, twenty nine three dimensional iceberg profiles were obtained as a result of this work, providing significant improvements in the iceberg shape data available for input in the design of offshore platforms in regions where icebergs present a risk to these structures.