Ice Loads on Structures in the Baltic Environment

For offshore, nearshore and harbour structures ice loading is often a decisive ULS load. However, the Code requirements, the regulations and design practices vary considerably across the Baltic Sea region and beyond. This result in incommensurable values of the compressive strength of the ice and the resulting recommended/prescribed design loads. The paper examines these differences over time and in-between countries and elucidates the effects on the design for a number of case histories. The Danish rules show a pronounced trend of increasing values of compressive ice strength (five-fold from 1945 to 2015). Surprisingly, this is commensurate with the trend of less severe winters with time. In conclusion, the Danish code requirements need critical review to better match reality and to reduce the cost of foundation structures subject to ice loading.