METHOD OF DEFLECTING ICE AT UPRIGHT COLUMNS SUBMERGED IN WATER OF STATIONARY OR FLOATING CTURES IN MARINE AREAS IN WHICH THE OCCURRENCE OF ICE MAY BE EXPECTED, AND ICE DEFLECTOR MBLY THEREFOR

A method of deflecting ice for protecting upright legs of stationary or floating marine structures such as marine offshore drilling platforms or the like against drift ice by suspending a heavy mass along the leg of the structure in the vicinity of the water surface and oscillating this mass so that the oscillating mass periodically hits ice adjacent the leg of the structure whereby the oscillations of the mass are generated within the oscillating mass and the resultants of the active and reactive forces and the center of gravity of a semi-cross-sectional area of the oscillating mass substantially coincide along a vertical line spaced from and substantially parallel to the leg of the structure. The ice deflector assembly includes an annular or U-shaped oscillating body suspended about the leg of the protected structure, the body housing internal oscillation generating means for generating vertical and/or horizontal oscillations of the body.