Implications of novel risk perspectives for ice management operations

•Risks related to ice management operations are fundamentally discussed.•An ice management system is defined and systematized.•A novel, uncertainty-based risk perspective is applied to the problem.•Implications of the novel risk perspective to risk management are discussed.•The application is illustrated in a conceptual example.

Ice management enables offshore and marine activities in Arctic waters in the presence of sea ice or icebergs. The presence of ice introduces additional risks to the activities. This paper discusses the risks in the light of novel risk perspectives, emphasizing uncertainties arising from potentially weak background knowledge in ice management operations. An ice management system is defined and a generic risk picture of an ice management operation is created. Risk theory is connected to the results using discussion and a conceptual example. Ice management operations are complex socio-technical systems requiring expertise in various fields. Available data is scarce and uncertainties are high. Still, the main activities need to trust in the ice management system to operate safely. The risks in ice management operations culminate in decision making and physical ice management. These need to be better understood to manage the operational risks.