2 At sea
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - Intact Stability (IS) Code - Intact Stability for All Types of Ships Covered by IMO Instruments – Resolution A.749(18) - Annex - Code on Intact Stability for all Types of Ships Covered by IMO Instruments - Annex 2 - Recommendations for Skippers of Fishing Vessels on Ensuring a Vessel's Endurance in Conditions of Ice Formation - 2 At sea

2 At sea

  2.1 During the voyage and when the vessel is on the fishing grounds the skipper should keep himself informed on all long-term and short-term weather forecasts and should arrange for the following systematic meteorological observations to be systematically recorded:

  • .1 temperatures of the air and of the sea surface;

  • .2 wind direction and force;

  • .3 direction and height of waves and sea state;

  • .4 atmospheric pressure, air humidity;

  • .5 frequency of splashing per minute and the intensity of ice accumulation on different parts of the vessel per hour.

  2.2 All observed data should be recorded in the vessel's log-book. The skipper should compare the weather forecasts and icing charts with actual meteorological conditions, and should estimate the probability of ice formation and its intensity.

  2.3 When the danger of ice formation arises the following measures should be taken without delay:

  • .1 all the means of combating ice formation should be ready for use;

  • .2 all the fishing operations should be stopped, the fishing gear should be taken on board and placed in the underdeck spaces. If this cannot be done all the gear should be fastened for storm conditions on its prescribed place. It is particularly dangerous to leave the fishing gear suspended since its surface for ice formation is large and the point of suspension is generally located high;

  • .3 barrels and containers with fish, packing, all gear and supplies located on deck as well as portable mechanisms should be placed in closed spaces as low as possible and firmly lashed;

  • .4 all cargoes in holds and other compartments should be placed as low as possible and firmly lashed;

  • .5 the cargo booms should be lowered and fastened;

  • .6 deck machinery, hawser reels and boats should be covered with duck covers;

  • .7 life-lines should be fastened on deck;

  • .8 freeing ports fitted with covers should be brought into operative condition, all objects located near scuppers and freeing ports and preventing water drainage from deck should be taken away;

  • .9 all cargo and companion hatches, manhole covers, weathertight outside doors in superstructures and deckhouses and portholes should be securely closed in order to ensure complete weathertightness of the vessel, access to the weather deck from inner compartments should be allowed only through the superstructure deck;

  • .10 a check should be carried out as to whether the amount of water ballast on board and its location is in accordance with that recommended in “Stability guidance to skippers”; if there is sufficient freeboard, all the empty bottom tanks fitted with ballast piping should be filled with seawater;

  • .11 all fire-fighting, emergency and life-saving equipment should be ready for use;

  • .12 all drainage systems should be checked for their effectiveness;

  • .13 deck lighting and searchlights should be checked;

  • .14 a check should be carried out to make sure that each member of the crew has warm clothing;

  • .15 reliable two-way radiocommunication with both shore stations and other vessels should be established; radio calls should be arranged for set times.

  2.4 The skipper should seek to take the vessel away from the dangerous area keeping in mind that the lee edges of icefields, areas of warm currents and protected coastal areas are a good refuge for the vessel during weather when ice formation occurs.

  2.5 Small fishing vessels on fishing grounds should keep nearer to each other and to larger vessels.

  2.6 It should be remembered that the entry of the vessel into an icefield presents certain danger to the hull especially when there is a high sea swell. Therefore the vessel should enter the icefield at a right angle to the icefield edge at low speed without inertia. It is less dangerous to enter an icefield bow to the wind. If a vessel must enter an icefield with the wind on the stern, the fact that the edge of the ice is more dense on the windward side should be taken into consideration. It is important to enter the icefield at the point where the ice floes are the smallest.

Parent topic: Annex 2 - Recommendations for Skippers of Fishing Vessels on Ensuring a Vessel's Endurance in Conditions of Ice Formation
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