As long as Arctic ice exists, it will remain a challenge. Knowing how to identify ice, plan for and execute a transit in ice-infested water, particularly where dangerous multi-year and glacial ice can be encountered, is vital to operations in the Polar Regions.

It takes many years of experience to learn how to identify ice and to safely manoeuvre a vessel in ice-infested waters. It is often a lack of experience in operations in ice-infested waters that results in damage or loss. Many that truly know the Polar Regions accept that the skills and knowledge required to operate there is far and above those held by the average mariner.

Captain David (Duke) Snider brings his extensive experience in polar shipping and as a highly qualified ice navigator to Martech Polar. He also calls on expert mariners with decades of polar shipping experience to ensure continual progress in all aspects of polar shipping and vessel operations.

Martech Polar calls on a core of highly qualified and experienced mariners who are available to provide ice pilotage and ice navigation services worldwide. Our associates are based in North America, New Zealand and Western Europe.

Martech Polar’s associates are experts in:

• Ice Pilotage and ice navigation
• Ice physics and dynamics
• Chartering and brokerage
• Logistics support
• Marine engineering with a focus on cold climate operations
• Naval architecture with a focus on ice strengthening design
• State of technology to collect, display and utilize weather and ice information
• Operational characteristics on commercial cargo, passenger, expedition ships; research ships; naval and coast guard ships; super yachts.

Martech Polar’s associates possess:

• Current STCW Master Mariner equivalent Certificates of Competency
• Nautical Institute Ice Navigator Level 2 Certification
• Certificate of Proficiency Polar Waters Advanced Training

Martech Polar endeavors to ensure continual progress in all aspects of polar shipping and vessel operations. We are dedicated to improving safety at sea, with a particular focus on improving standards of ice navigation.

Captain Snider is the President of the Nautical Institute and Chair of the Ice Navigator Working Group. The Ice Navigator Working Group is tasked with advancing the Nautical Institute's goal establishing a global standard for ice navigators and contributing to safe navigation in ice-covered waters.

• Captain Snider was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal in 2011 for his years as a member of the Nautical Institute
• Canadian Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal
• United States Coast Guard Antarctic Service Medal
• Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner’s Commendation
• International Transport and Shipping – Maritime Shipping Awards 2018 – Best Global Ice Pilotage Specialists North America
• CV Magazine – Canadian Business Awards 2019 – Best Polar Ice Navigation and Pilotage Specialists
• CV Magazine – Canadian Business Awards 2020 – Best Polar Ice Navigation and Pilotage Specialists
• Maritime Museum of British Columbia Beaver Medal