• Joint degree with Aalto University, Finland
• Experimental tests on the material behavior in compression, tension, shear and bending (model ice basin Aalto University)
• Investigating the mechanical failure mechanisms 
• Numerical modeling of the failure processes based on the physical structure of the model ice

• Development of a method to predict the hull resistance in ice
• Numerical simulations of the interaction between ice, water, and hull of the vessel
• Optimization of the hull shape to minimize ice resistance (in view of open water) will be performed
• Rolls Royce's design UT 758 ICE will be used as a case study vessel in order to validate the numerical model

• Detailed observations of the ice impact effect on the entire propulsion machinery system
• Influence of propeller and machinery parameters on the ice peak loads
• Development control options to minimize ice peaks effects
• Cooperation with Ålesund University College and Rolls Royce Marine

Alexei Bambulyak is a Country Management Russia at the research company Akvaplan-niva, and a part-time PhD researcher at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Bambulyak has a degree as an engineer-physicist from Petrozavodsk State University, and he is a certified environmental auditor in Russia. He has 20-years' experience in running international capacity building and research projects in environmental and marine shipping issues. Bambulyak is an author of joint reports on environmental studies and regulations in Norway and Russia, marine shipping and oil pollution issues in the Arctic. His PhD research project, called "Environmental risk assessments of shipping in ice covered waters", is an interdisciplinary study focused on oil pollution risks with shipping by the Northern Sea Route. The project is developed in research collaboration between Akvaplan-niva, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and University of Tromsø (Are Sydnes) – the Arctic University of Norway, and involves other stakeholders – research institutes and shipping companies from Norway and Russia.

• To develop and validate first principal-based approaches for the evaluation of ice induced loads using full-scale measurements and damage statistics
• To develop an ice condition database incl. future predictions for the arctic sea
• To develop a mission specific identification of design relevant loads for ships operating in arctic waters
• To develop compliance measures for ice actions and their first principal-based assessment

• The identification of major risk factors specifically related to arctic ship design, and their significance for the life-cycle performance of the vessel
• The modeling of a relevant arctic operational context for the efficient assessment of these risk factors, both in terms of their statistical properties and in terms of their impact on vessel system performance
• The integration of the complete set of risk factors into a holistic system design framework to capture the high-level performance of alternative vessel designs
• The application of a risk-based design framework in order to propose and evaluate specific arctic ship design solutions

• Assessment of the ship performance in ice using simulations and experiments in cooperation with HSVA
• Analysis of the ice breaking, rotation, submergence, sliding and propeller ice interaction process
• Determination of the most important parameters influencing the ship-ice interaction process
• Development of an assessment method to evaluate hull shapes of ice-going ships

• Development of new business and commercial models for Arctic field and transit logistics
• Simulation-based decision support tools for Arctic field logistics and transit transport
• Stakeholders´ preferences based approach
• Close cooperation with ABB, CHNL, DNV, HiÅ, MARINTEK and Northenergy