SEDNA · Project

Safer Arctic Shipping Through Smart Ice Monitoring, AR Navigation, and Anti-Icing Coatings

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Imagine sailing a cargo ship through Arctic waters where ice can appear out of nowhere, coat your deck, and block your route — all while you can barely see through fog and darkness. SEDNA built a set of tools to deal with exactly that: a smart bridge display using augmented reality so captains can actually see what's around them, an ice monitoring and weather prediction system that warns you before trouble hits, and special coatings inspired by nature that stop ice from forming on the ship in the first place. Think of it as giving Arctic ships a winter survival kit — better eyes, better forecasts, and a non-stick surface.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the project

countries represented in the consortium

industry partners involved

total deliverables produced

demonstration deliverables completed

types of anti-icing coatings developed and tested

The business problem

What needed solving

Arctic shipping routes are opening up fast, but ships sailing these waters face extreme hazards — unpredictable ice formations that damage vessels and endanger crews, near-zero visibility conditions, and ice build-up on decks that threatens ship stability. Traditional navigation tools and ship designs were never built for these conditions, leaving operators exposed to costly delays, accidents, and regulatory risk.

The solution

What was built

SEDNA delivered a ship-based ice monitoring system with sea ice identification and validated weather and ice forecast products; an augmented reality Safe Arctic Bridge concept with virtual demonstrator; 4 types of anti-icing coatings (nanocomposite, biomimetic, electro-thermal, and smart multifunctional) produced as large-area prototypes for field trials; and a CEN Workshop Agreement for methanol bunkering safety.

Audience

Who needs this

Arctic shipping and logistics companies operating Northern Sea RoutesMarine coatings manufacturers seeking next-generation anti-icing productsShip bridge and navigation system integrators building for ice-class vesselsShipyards designing or retrofitting Arctic-capable vesselsPort authorities and maritime safety agencies in Arctic regions

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Arctic Shipping & Logistics

enterprise

Target: Shipping companies operating or planning Arctic routes

If you are a shipping company sending vessels through Northern Sea Routes or Arctic waters and dealing with ice-related delays, crew safety risks, and vessel damage — this project developed a ship-based ice monitoring system with real-time sea ice identification and validated weather and ice forecast products that enable safer voyage planning and reduce costly detours. The consortium of 17 partners across 8 countries tested these tools in demonstration conditions.

Marine Coatings & Materials

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of marine protective coatings and surface treatments

If you are a coatings manufacturer looking for the next generation of marine anti-icing products — this project developed and produced large-area prototype anti-icing and de-icing coatings, including biomimetic, nanocomposite, electro-thermal, and smart multifunctional variants, all tested for adhesion, hardness, wear, UV resistance, and corrosion. These were optimised for field trials, giving you a head start on commercialising ice-prevention coatings for the growing Arctic fleet.

Maritime Bridge & Navigation Technology

mid-size

Target: Developers of ship bridge systems and maritime navigation software

If you are a navigation technology company building bridge systems for ice-class vessels — this project designed the Safe Arctic Bridge concept with augmented reality, integrating ice movement predictions and big data management into an interactive architecture for captains. A virtual demonstrator and AR demonstrations were delivered, providing a validated design concept you could license or integrate into your existing bridge products.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt these technologies?

The project data does not include specific licensing costs or pricing models. BMT Group Ltd (the coordinator) is a large UK-based engineering consultancy, and costs would need to be negotiated directly. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to discuss commercial terms.

Are these solutions ready for industrial-scale deployment on real vessels?

The project produced large-area prototype coatings optimised for field trials and delivered validated ice monitoring and forecast systems. A full demonstration with monitoring reports was completed. However, fleet-wide rollout would likely require further scaling and certification.

What is the IP situation — can I license specific components?

IP is distributed across the 17-partner consortium spanning 8 countries. Individual technologies like the anti-icing coatings, ice monitoring system, and Safe Arctic Bridge design each involve different partners. Licensing terms would need to be discussed with the relevant consortium members.

Does this comply with Arctic maritime regulations like the Polar Code?

SEDNA specifically aimed to provide formal inputs to international regulatory regimes regarding regulation adaptation requirements for its safety solutions. The project also developed a CEN Workshop Agreement for methanol bunkering safety procedures, directly engaging with standardisation bodies.

How mature is the ice monitoring system?

The project delivered both the ship-based ice monitoring system (D3.2) with sea ice identification and characterisation, and validated regional weather and sea ice probability forecast products (D3.3). These were validated within the project, placing them at a demonstrated technology level.

Can the anti-icing coatings integrate with existing vessel surfaces?

The project produced 4 types of coatings — nanocomposite, biomimetic, electro-thermal, and smart multifunctional — all tested for adhesion, hardness, wear, abrasion, UV resistance, biofouling, and corrosion resistance. Large-area prototypes were optimised specifically for field trial conditions on vessels.

Who in the consortium has the engineering capacity to support deployment?

BMT Group Ltd, the coordinator, is a major UK maritime engineering firm. The consortium includes 7 industry partners and 8 universities across 8 countries including Finland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands — all with direct Arctic expertise and infrastructure.

Consortium

Who built it

SEDNA's 17-partner consortium is unusually well-balanced for commercialisation, with 7 industry partners (41% industry ratio) alongside 8 universities. The geographic spread across 8 countries — including Arctic-experienced nations like Finland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Sweden — means the technologies were developed with direct input from people who actually operate in these waters. BMT Group Ltd, a well-established UK maritime engineering firm, coordinates the project, which adds credibility for industrial buyers. The 2 SMEs in the consortium suggest niche technology players are already involved. With partners from China and the Netherlands also in the mix, the consortium covers both Arctic-route endpoints and major shipbuilding nations.

BMT GROUP LTDCoordinator · UK
Dalian University of Technologyparticipant · CN
ARKITEKTUR OG DESIGNHOGSKOLEN I OSLOparticipant · NO
MET OFFICEparticipant · UK
MUNSTER TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYparticipant · IE
AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SRparticipant · FI
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTONparticipant · UK
AKER ARCTIC TECHNOLOGY OYparticipant · FI
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDONparticipant · UK
LLOYD'S REGISTER EMEAparticipant · UK
STENA REDERI ABparticipant · SE
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA ABparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

BMT Group Ltd (UK) coordinated this project. SciTransfer can help establish a direct connection with the right technical lead.

Order a report on this consortium See BMT GROUP LTD profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the ice monitoring system, anti-icing coatings, or Safe Arctic Bridge design? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the relevant consortium partners and arrange a technical briefing tailored to your specific needs.

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