1 GENERAL
1.1 These Interim guidelines outline possible means of mitigating hazards in
order to comply with section 8.3 of part I-A of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar
Waters (Polar
Code) and are intended to assist ship designers and shipowners/operators, as
well as Administrations in the uniform implementation of the Polar
Code.
1.2 Compliance with these Interim guidelines does not necessarily mean that
the ship complies with the Polar Code. There may be other hazards, conditions and
mitigating means to be considered in the operational assessment required in section 1.5 of part I-A of the Code. The complexity of a prolonged survival time in a harsh
environment should not be underestimated.
1.3 Survival after abandonment will rely on several factors, such as the types and
combination of equipment, crew training and good leadership of each survival craft. The
expected time of rescue is a defining factor for life-saving appliances and
arrangements. Conditions that are not otherwise considered critical may become critical
over time.
1.4 While equipment enhancement greatly improves survivability, the human element is a
significant factor. The crew should have relevant knowledge of human behaviour in
extended survival situations, medical first aid and the management of the resources
available.
1.5 Key physical parameters for human survival and human behaviour in a crisis should be
taken into account when considering life-saving appliances and arrangements for ships
operating in polar waters.
1.6 All references to the LSA Code in these Interim guidelines mean the
International Life-saving Appliance (LSA) Code, adopted by the Maritime
Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution MSC.48(66), as amended.
1.7 Due to the variability of risk levels in polar waters, some of the
mitigation means within these Interim guidelines may not apply to all operations. Any
risk mitigation measures applied should be based on the results of the assessment, as
required by the Polar Code and the operational limitations identified on the Polar Ship
Certificate.
2 CONDITIONS TO CONSIDER
2.1 The Polar Code considers hazards that may lead to elevated levels
of risks due to an increased probability of occurrence and/or more severe consequences.
The sources of hazards listed in section 3 of the introduction of the Code should be
considered for both normal operation and emergency situations.
2.2 These Interim guidelines are based on the following specific operational assessment
criteria:
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.1 maximum expected time of rescue;
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.2 operation in low air temperatures (ships with an assigned Polar Service
Temperature (PST));
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.3 operation in ice;
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.4 icing of life-saving appliances and arrangements;
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.5 the effect of operation in high latitudes;
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.6 operation in extended periods of darkness; and
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.7 abandonment onto ice or land.
2.3 In the following provisions, the mitigating means are organized based on
their relevance in relation to the specific conditions. Some means may be relevant to
more than one of the conditions. The final relevance for each individual ship is
dependent on the results of the operational assessment required by section 1.5 of part I-A of the Polar
Code.
3 MAXIMUM EXPECTED TIME OF RESCUE
3.1 This section provides guidance for the type and amount of survival equipment related
to the maximum expected time of rescue.
Personal and group survival equipment
3.2 The following equipment should be available for all persons after abandonment and for
the maximum expected time of rescue, which can be stored in survival craft or be a part
of the personal survival equipment or group survival equipment and the Polar Water
Operational Manual (PWOM) should consider the location, stowage and transfer of
life-saving equipment:
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.1 insulated immersion suit or thermal protective aid provided with gloves should
be provided with separate gloves, which shall be permanently attached to the
suit/protective aid;
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.2 food rations providing a minimum of 5,000 kJ (1,195 kcal) per person per day
which should be increased as necessary taking into account the operational
assessment;
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.3 at least 2 litres of fresh water per person per day: de-salting
apparatus or means to melt ice or snow may supply the amount exceeding the
requirements of paragraphs 4.1.5.1.19 and 4.4.8.9 of the LSA Code and
there should be a tank or a container of adequate size to collect water from the
de-salting apparatus and rainwater collectors;
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.4 anti-seasickness medicine;
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.5 protective clothing of a material with thermal properties taking into account
performance of the material when wet and type of survival craft, including head
protection, neck and face protection, gloves/mittens, socks, boots, long
underpants and sweaters;
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.6 sunglasses or ski goggles appropriate for the expected conditions to protect
persons from snow blindness, UV rays, snow ingress and/or cold;
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.7 drinking vessel, preferably with a screw cap;
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.8 polar survival guidance;
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.9 a seasickness bag in addition to the one required by the LSA
Code;
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.10 anti-bacterial gel or hand wipes;
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.11 blanket of a material with thermal properties suitable for use on the planned
route, for each person on board; and
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.12 other equipment in accordance with section 9.1 of part I-B of the Polar
Code, as deemed necessary.
3.3 Personal survival equipment should be packed in a waterproof floatable carrier bag.
The personal survival equipment may be stored at the assembly or embarkation stations
and should be clearly marked with the size of the person they are intended for (if
applicable). The content should include, as a minimum, all equipment needed during the
abandonment and the initial part of the survival phase. The carrier bag should also
function as each person's personal storage area for equipment handed out during the
survival phase in order to keep the survival craft or shelter tidy and habitable.
Capacity of survival craft
3.4 The capacity of each survival craft should comply with the following:
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.1 The seating capacity of each survival craft should be adjusted taking into
account polar clothing, additional equipment including all persons carrying
their intended personal survival equipment and space for occupants to stand and
move in turns.
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.2 Where additional personal and group survival equipment is carried
in accordance with paragraphs 8.3.3.3.2 and 8.3.3.3.3 of chapter 8 of part I-A of the Polar
Code, adequate space for the stowage of the equipment should be
provided. The total combined weight including additional equipment may not
exceed the weight determined for the type approval of the survival craft.
Equipment in survival craft
3.5 The following equipment should be available in the survival craft:
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.1 Effective means of communicating important messages from the person in charge
of the survival craft, unless the Administration considers the survival craft
small enough to ensure that all important messages can be heard by all persons
on board, taking into account the noise level caused by the lifeboat engine,
harsh weather, etc.
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.2 In addition to the tools required in paragraph 4.4.8.27 of the LSA
Code, the lifeboat should be provided with tools and critical spare
parts for minor adjustments of the equipment and components to ensure
operability during the survival phase.
3.6 Notwithstanding the requirement in paragraph 4.4.8 of the LSA Code that all
lifeboat equipment should be as small and of as little mass as possible, it is important
that all items are robust to retain their functionality for the maximum expected time of
rescue.
3.7 Survival craft should be of a type complying with the following:
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.1 Survival craft should be fitted with handholds or handhold lines to safeguard
persons who are standing upright or moving inside the craft in a seaway.
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.2 Survival craft should provide a habitable environment for all
persons on board that prevent exposure to a long-term CO2
concentration of more than 5,000 ppm for the maximum expected time of rescue.
The ventilation should be considered in context with heating requirements to
achieve a habitable temperature in the survival craft.
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.3 Each seat in a lifeboat should be provided with a backrest.
4 SHIPS OPERATING IN LOW AIR TEMPERATURE
4.1 This section applies to ships intended to operate in low air
temperatures, as defined in the Polar
Code, part I-A, regulation 1.2.12.
4.2 All life-saving appliances and arrangements should remain operational and
ready for immediate use at the polar service temperature (PST) or at the temperatures
specified by the LSA Code, whichever is the lowest. The manufacturer should
provide information of additional tests including temperature ranges which the equipment
is intended for. This information should be a part of the operating and maintenance
manual.
4.3 In the survival craft, the combination of personal survival equipment, ventilation,
insulation and heating means, if provided, should be capable of maintaining a habitable
inside air temperature when the outside air temperature is equal to the PST. All cold
surfaces should be insulated, in particular the surfaces in direct contact with the
persons, e.g. seats.
4.4 Installed heating systems, if provided, and their power sources should be capable of
operation during the maximum expected time of rescue.
4.5 Means should be provided to avoid icing or dew on the windows of the lifeboat
steering position, in order to maintain a proper lookout.
4.6 In order to avoid exposure to cold air, toilet equipment should be provided inside
the survival craft.
4.7 Liferafts should be provided with inflatable floors or equivalent and all
persons should be wearing insulated immersion suits instead of thermal protective
aids.
4.8 Survival craft and containers for group survival equipment in their stowed position
should have means to mitigate the freezing of drinking water supplies.
4.9 Lifeboats should be provided with suitable low temperature grade fuel and lubrication
oil for the engine and suitable low temperature grade oil for the steering gear, as
necessary, or be fitted with a heating system to maintain fuel and lubrication oil at
the appropriate viscosity for operation.
5 SHIPS OPERATING IN ICE
5.1 This section applies to Category A and B ships and ice strengthened Category C
ships.
5.2 All survival craft should be arranged for launching in such a way that they will not
be damaged or cause sufficient impact to injure persons on board.
5.3 Survival and rescue craft and their fittings should be so constructed as to prevent
damage from contact with ice when loaded with its full complement of persons and
equipment.
5.4 A survival craft should withstand a controlled deployment into the ice conditions
expected for the operational area and its propeller, rudder or other external fittings
should be capable of operating in such conditions.
6 SHIPS OPERATING IN CONDITIONS WITH RISK OF ICING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES AND
ARRANGEMENTS
6.1 This section applies to ships operating in conditions where ice accretion is likely
to occur on life-saving appliances and arrangements.
6.2 Means should be provided to ensure the function of launching appliances, release
mechanisms, hydrostatic release units and marine evacuation systems in the expected
conditions of icing.
6.3 Lifeboats and rescue boats should maintain positive metacentric height
(GM) when loaded as required by paragraph 4.4.5.1 of the LSA Code and with an additional ice load of 30
kg/m2 on exposed horizontal surfaces and 7.5 kg/m2 for the
projected lateral area of each side of the lifeboat.
6.4 Means for removing ice should be provided for all survival craft likely to accumulate
ice.
6.5 Entrances, hatches and means of ventilation should be designed and equipped in a way
that they can be operated during icing condition to allow mitigation of ice accretion
and remove the accumulated ice.
7 SHIPS OPERATING IN HIGH LATITUDES
7.1 This section applies to ships operating in areas of high latitudes.
7.2 Lifeboats and rescue boats on ships proceeding to latitudes over 80°N should be
fitted with a non-magnetic means for determining heading. It should be possible to
supply the means with power from two independent batteries.
8 SHIPS OPERATING IN EXTENDED PERIODS OF DARKNESS
8.1 This section applies to all ships operating in polar waters during extended periods
of darkness.
8.2 Survival craft exterior and interior lights should be capable of being in operation
for the extended periods of darkness during the maximum expected time of rescue.
Lifeboat searchlights should be capable of being in continuous operation for the maximum
expected time of rescue.
9 ABANDONMENT TO ICE OR LAND
9.1 This section applies to ships where the assessment required by paragraph 1.5 of part I-A of the Polar Code identifies a
potential of abandonment onto ice or land.
9.2 Special consideration should be given when operating in areas with dangerous
wildlife. Additional flares and/or a flare gun should be provided.
Shelter
9.3 The combination of a chosen type of shelter, type of personal thermal protection and
other mitigating means should provide a habitable environment on ice or land, while
adequately protecting against cold, wind and sun.
9.4 When determining the capacity of the shelters, the expected environmental condition
in the operating area should be considered. For ships operating in low air temperature,
the calculation should take into account that it might be unsafe for persons to stay
outside the shelter, even for short periods. Hence, the same considerations as for
survival craft should be taken into account.
9.5 Shelters should have insulated floor or other means to minimize heat transfer to the
surface.
Group survival equipment
9.6 The container for group survival equipment when fully loaded should have a size,
shape and mass that enables it to be towed through icy water, and also allows two crew
members to pull it out the water and tow it on ice or on land.
9.7 Unless the group survival equipment is carried in the survival craft, means should be
provided to launch the containers to water, ice or land without damage to the container
or its contents. Means to launch such containers should be independent of the ship power
system.