The NRC’s commitment — OCRE Research Centre lab, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

The NRC's Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre lab in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, uses anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant to create ice conditions that mimic real-world conditions in order to test how ships manage varying thicknesses and strengths of ice using scale model vessels in a large tank of water. For further information on the Ice tank please visit: Ice tank – 90 m research facility.

The health and safety of employees and the local community is a top priority for the NRC and we adhere to municipal, provincial and federal government regulations in all aspects of our operations. The NRC has stringent procedures in place, including for managing emergencies, to ensure hazardous materials like anhydrous ammonia are managed appropriately and monitored closely. Examples of safety systems in place include an emergency notification system and monitoring of ammonia levels in the plant and in other strategic locations. All refrigeration plant operators are licensed by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador to operate a refrigeration plant.

Read our frequently asked questions for more information about anhydrous ammonia and the safety measures we have in place to manage the risks associated with it.