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2024 Journal Impact Factor - 0.6
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ISSN 2083-6473
ISSN 2083-6481 (electronic version)
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Prof. Tomasz Neumann
Published by
TransNav, Faculty of Navigation
Gdynia Maritime University
3, John Paul II Avenue
81-345 Gdynia, POLAND
e-mail transnav@umg.edu.pl
Cold Climate Maritime Engineering: The Need for Development of Educational Materials
1 University of Tromsø the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
2 University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
2 University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
ABSTRACT: Maritime activity in the Arctic has increased significantly due to declining sea ice, longer open-water seasons, and growing interest in shipping, tourism, fisheries, and natural resources. While these developments create new opportunities, they also increase operational, environmental, and safety challenges in remote and vulnerable regions. This paper argues for the development of a dedicated one-year, 60-ECTS programme in cold-climate maritime engineering to address competency gaps in current maritime education and training (MET) for Arctic operations. The objective of the study is to present key learning requirements based on real challenges and threats as a result of increased activity. The study draws on historical polar maritime accidents, Arctic search-and-rescue exercises, and evaluations of Polar Code training. Case studies, including Maxim Gorkiy (1989), Explorer (2007), Northguider (2018), and Ocean Explorer (2023), reveal recurring challenges related to grounding, ice navigation, emergency response, remoteness, and organizational decision-making. Although accident rates relative to traffic appear to have declined after the introduction of the IMO Polar Code, grounding remains the dominant accident type in Arctic passenger shipping. The paper argues that existing international training standards are insufficient for the complexity of polar operations. To address this, the proposed curriculum combines theoretical instruction, simulator training, laboratory exercises, and case-based learning grounded in resilience and professional competence formation. The programme is organized into six modules covering Arctic operations, marine technology, safety, resilience, and emergency preparedness. The paper concludes that strengthening Arctic maritime resilience requires not only regulation and technology, but also specialized education adapted to the realities of cold-climate operation.
KEYWORDS: Risk Assessment, Maritime Education and Training (MET), Search and Rescue (SAR), Safety and Security in Sea Transportation, Polar Navigation, Arctic Shipping, Human Factors and Crew Resource Management, Pollution and Environment Protection
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Citation note:
Sollid M.P., Johansen K., Hammer M., Gudmestad O.T.: Cold Climate Maritime Engineering: The Need for Development of Educational Materials. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 20, No. 2, doi:10.12716/1001.20.02.23, pp. 497-505, 2026
Authors in other databases:
Magne Petter Sollid:
Kåre Johansen:
orcid.org/0000-0002-0224-8590
7202031391
orcid.org/0000-0002-0224-8590
7202031391
Maria Hammer:
aXs-tFMAAAAJOther publications of authors:
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