THE INSTITUTE FOR MARINE DYNAMICS
A World Class Establishment

by Elizabeth Murphy

Where would you find the world's largest Arctic vessel research lab, and one of the most important marine hydrodynamics research organizations? Add to that Canada's largest ice towing tank, as well as a 200-metre-long clear water towing tank. All these facilities are part of the National Research Council's Institute for Marine Dynamics located here in St. John's, Newfoundland. The institute also boasts an ice sensor for measuring ice thickness - the only sensor of its kind in the world and later this year, when the institute's sea keeping and manoeuvring basins are due for completion, its wave generating system will be the largest machine in the world capable of creating multidirectional waves.

This world-class sophisticated facility is used for a variety of purposes but specifically for research on the technology necessary for the operation of offshore structures and the navigation of vessels in currents, ice, wind or waves. Tests done at model or full scale provide information on the interaction of ice with offshore platforms, ships and propellers or information into the resistance and propulsion of ships in calm water. The institute also provides services, technology transfer, facilities and collaborative research opportunities to help Canadian industry.

Since its official opening in 1985, I.M.D. has been involved in a variety of projects, some of which include tests on a retractable mast which would have been used on the French nuclear submarines which were being offered to the Canadian Forces. Besides the testing of Canadian icebreakers, in 1988 the institute tested a scale model of a Swedish ice breaker. Recently it was involved in testing and analysis of the designs and materials used in the shells (boats) for the regatta. On a lighter side, it designed the "rubber duck dumpster" and evaluated various duck hull designs for the Rennies Mill River Foundation fundraising duck race.

The expertise and the facilities are also made available to other research organizations. A memorandum of understanding with Memorial University and the Marine Institute provides the latter with access to facilities at I.M.D. for demonstrations, class experiments or for research work by graduate students. Collaborative work with researchers in other countries is also encouraged whereby scientists from abroad work at the institute while scientists from Newfoundland travel to countries such as France, Holland, Germany, Norway, Finland or Japan.

"Scientific exchanges are an important means for learning about what research is being done in other countries and about what equipment or technology they have developed," says I.M.D. Director Norman Jeffries. "Knowing what other institutes are doing is essential, otherwise time and money can be wasted on work that has already been done."

Exchanges serve yet another purpose in that they provide an opportunity for other countries to realize that one of the most important marine hydrodynamics research organizations in the world with some of the most state-of-the-art equipment and technology is located right here - in St. John's, Newfoundland.