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NRC — Ice Tank - 90 m Research Facility
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Ice tank facility in St. John's, Newfoundland
Researchers And Facilities
Overview
Simulate realistic Arctic and northern marine conditions in this fee-for-service ice tank, capable of temperatures as low as -25°C and able to grow ice at a rate of 2.5 mm an hour to a maximum thickness of 200 mm.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Research and experimental development
- Reduce the ecological footprint
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Activities funded
The NRC Ice Tank research facility in St. John's supports projects that focus on maritime testing and simulation under Arctic conditions. Eligible activities are related to ship performance analysis and structural testing in icy waters.
- Ship resistance testing under simulated Arctic conditions.
- Ship self-propulsion trials in various ice conditions.
- Offshore simulation and testing for structures in cold environments.
- Captive and free maneuvering studies for vessels in ice.
- Measuring ice forces on moored and fixed structures.
- Manoeuvring performance tests using the large amplitude planar motion mechanism.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 40,000
Offshore simulation studies for oil platform risk assessment
$ 40,000
Conduct ship resistance testing for new arctic vessel designs
$ 44,000
Perform self-propulsion testing for autonomous icebreakers
$ 36,000
Implement instrumentation for force measurement on arctic tanker models
$ 40,000
Study ice forces on moored structures for Arctic oil platforms
$ 36,000
Testing captive and free maneuvering in ice for fishing vessels
Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for this grant:
- Open to Canadian companies and researchers
- Relevant projects must align with the focus areas of the grant
- Applications must meet specific project requirements and guidelines
Who is eligible?
The given context does not provide specific information regarding the evaluation and selection criteria for projects under this grant. It outlines the capabilities of the ice tank facility in St. John's but does not include details about a particular grant program, its evaluation process, or selection criteria.Eligible expenses
This grant supports activities centered on advancing marine engineering and ice simulation technologies. Eligible projects include enhancing vessel and offshore structure performance through various testing and simulation exercises.
- Conducting ship resistance and self-propulsion tests in simulated ice conditions.
- Performing offshore simulation to assess stability and performance.
- Engaging in captive and free manoeuvring studies in ice environments.
- Measuring ice forces on moored and fixed structures for safety evaluations.
- Developing and managing ice ridge constructions for realistic modelling.
Selection criteria
There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The criteria include:
- Relevance of the proposed project to the objectives of the grant
- Technical merit and innovation of the proposed project
- Potential economic and social impact of the project
- Capacity and expertise of the project team to successfully carry out the project
- Feasibility and timeline of the project implementation
How to apply
1
Contact the NRC
- Use the provided email, NRC.ContactOCRE-ContactezGOCF.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, to reach out with your intent to apply.
- Provide basic information about your organization and interest in working with the ice tank facility.
2
Gather Required Information
- Compile data about your research needs and how the facility can support your objectives.
- Include specific tests and evaluations you are interested in conducting at the facility.
- Gather any technical or support documents needed to demonstrate your project's scope and requirements.
3
Formal Proposal Submission
- Send a formal proposal to the NRC detailing your research project, objectives, and expected outcomes.
- Include your completed forms and any additional documentation that supports your application.
4
Follow-up and Confirmation
- Await confirmation from the NRC regarding the status of your application.
- Respond promptly to any requests for additional information or clarifications.
Additional information
The ice tank in St. John's provides unique testing opportunities for maritime and offshore industries.
- The facility can simulate a wide range of Arctic and northern marine ice conditions.
- It offers a competitive advantage by combining customizable testing facilities with expert research staff.
- The facility has advanced instrumentation for comprehensive data collection.
Contacts
nrc.contactocre-contactezgocf.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
