HSVA operates the largest refrigerated Arctic Environmental Test Basin world wide. The basin is 30 m long, 6 m wide and 1.2 m deep. Air temperature can be regulated between -20° C to + 20° C, allowing the simulation of typical arctic ice conditions such as level ice, broken ice, frazil ice and pancake ice, pack-ice, rafted ice and pressure ice ridges. In addition to the ice-making facilities (ice growth rate 2 mm/h), special features include a current generator and a mobile wave generator capable of producing wave heights of about 0.3 m. Windows in the bottom of the basin as well as an underwater video system allow visual observation and documentation of scenarios underneath the ice cover. Various types of experiments for the investigation of ice properties are carried out in HSVA's refrigerated ice laboratory. Special features of the Arctic Environmental Test Basin are:

 simulation of real arctic conditions
 generation of propagating waves
 (max. wave height 0.3 m)
 generation of current (max. Speed 0.8 m/s)
 generation of wind (max. speed 10 m/s)
 controlled lighting for optimum algae growth

The following ice conditions can be simulated:

 frazil ice and pancake ice
 level ice
 broken ice
 rafted ice
 pressure ice ridges

The Environmental Test Basin is suitable for performing a wide range of investigations in ice physics, ice engineering and arctic marine biology:

 study of physical ice growth processes
 investigations on the microstructure of ice
 study of sedimentological processes
 penetration and distribution of oil in ice
 biodegradation of oil in ice
 weathering of oil
 study of marine biological processes in the ice
 sea ice ecology
 development of oil spill combat techniques and methods