Weather Restrictions Posed on Marine Operations in the Barents Sea

Some marine activities in the Barents Sea are normally ongoing year-round; others are dependent on limited weather windows. The limitations for the marine operations are the special weather conditions characterized by unpredictable Polar Low situations during the fall, winter and spring seasons, as well as cold temperatures that also are causing sea spray icing and the potential for drifting ice in certain parts of the Sea. Also, due to these concerns and a limited number of weather stations in the area, the uncertainties in weather forecasts are high and operations taking more than a day or two may see large changes in weather so it may be expected that the operations will have to be abandoned. It must also be realized that large distances combined with challenging meteorological and oceanographic criteria as well as darkness during the winter period represents a concern for evacuation and rescue, should it be necessary to abandon ships and platforms. The long distances to the locations farthest away from shore are, furthermore, out of reach of helicopter assistance. These aspects make it necessary to conduct hazard identification studies and to include all relevant historical knowledge in the hazard identification session, prior to the execution of marine operations in the Barents Sea.