Icing (ice accretion) | Top Next

icing (photo by Capt. Westra)
Ice accretion is extremely hazardous in its effects on small ships; particularly on vessels of less than about 1000 gross tonnage. Even on ships of the order of 10,000 gross tonnage it can cause radio and radar failures due to the icing of aerials. Visibility from the bridge may also be affected. Problems have occurred due to icing on the deck cargoes of large container ships. Apart from its possible effect on stability it may cause difficulty in unloading cargo at the port of destination when containers and their lashings are frozen solidly to the deck. Fishing vessels are particularly vulnerable to ice accretion.