Chapter 13 – Operational Arrangements
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.1024(26) – Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters – (Adopted on 2 December 2009) - Annex – Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters - Part C – Operational - Chapter 13 – Operational Arrangements

Chapter 13 – Operational Arrangements

Parent topic: Part C – Operational

13.1 Documentation

 All ships operating in polar waters should carry on board at all times a ship operating manual and training manual, as appropriate, for all Ice Navigators, as specified in paragraph 13.3.

13.2 Ship operational control

  13.2.1 The ship should not be operated outside the worst intended conditions and design limitations which should be included in the operational guidelines.

  13.2.2 All passenger vessels operating in polar waters should take account of the distance from search and rescue facilities and of the “Enhanced contingency planning guidance for passenger ships operating in areas remote from SAR facilities” (MSC.1/Circ.1184).

13.3 Operating and training manuals

Operational manual

  13.3.1 The operating manual, or supplementary manual in the case of ships not normally operating in polar waters, should contain at least the following information on issues directly related to operations in such waters. With respect to contingency planning in the event that the ship suffers ice damage, the manual should conform to guidelines developed by the Organization:footnote

  Normal operation

  .1 principal particulars of the ship;

  .2 loading procedures and limitations including any applicable recommendations against carrying pollutants in tanks and compartments against the hull envelope, maximum operational weight, position of centre of gravity and distribution of load necessary for operation in polar waters;

  .3 acknowledgment of changes in standard operating procedures for radio equipment and navigational aids applicable to Arctic and Antarctic operations;

  .4 operating limitations for the ship and essential systems in anticipated ice conditions and temperatures;

  .5 passage planning procedures accounting for anticipated ice conditions;

  .6 deviations in standard operating procedures associated with operation of propulsion and auxiliary machinery systems, remote control and warning systems and electronic and electrical systems made necessary by operations in polar waters;

  Risk management

  .7 deviations in standard damage control procedures made necessary by operations in polar ice-covered waters;

  .8 evacuation procedures into water, onto ice, or into a combination of the two, with due regard to chapter 11 of these Guidelines;

  .9 information regarding the handling of the ship as determined in accordance with chapter 16 of these Guidelines (Environmental protection and damage control);

  .10 maximum towing speeds and towing loads where applicable;

  .11 procedures for checking the integrity of hull structure;

  .12 description and operation of fire detection and fire-extinguishing equipment in a polar environment;

  .13 details arising from the standards of chapter 3 of the Guidelines (Subdivision and stability) likely to be of direct practical use to the crew in an emergency; and

  .14 guidance taking into account the results of any risk or failure analysis reports developed during the ship's operational history and its design limits and redundancy features.

Training manual

  13.3.2 The training manual should cover all aspects of ship operation in polar waters listed below plus other related information considered necessary by the Administration:

  • .1 the Guidelines for ships operating in polar waters;

  • .2 ice recognition;

  • .3 navigation in ice; and

  • .4 escorted operation.

 Instructions for drills and emergency instructions as detailed in section 13.4 should be incorporated as annexes to the manual.

  13.3.3 The Company should ensure that any additional documentation referenced in the training manual and required to provide a full understanding of its contents is on board the ship when operating in polar waters.

13.4 Drills and emergency instructions

  13.4.1 Onboard instruction and operation of the ship’s evacuation, fire and damage control appliances and systems should include appropriate cross training of crew members with appropriate emphasis to changes to standard procedure made necessary by operations in polar waters.

  13.4.2 Evacuation

  13.4.2.1 Evacuation drill scenarios for crew members should be varied so that different emergency conditions are simulated, including abandonment into the water, onto the ice if appropriate, or a combination of the two.

  13.4.2.2 Each evacuation craft drill should include:

  • .1 exercises in passenger control in cold temperatures as appropriate;

  • .2 checking that all personnel are suitably dressed;

  • .3 donning of immersion suits or thermal protective clothing by appropriate crew members;

  • .4 testing of emergency lighting for assembling and abandonment; and

  • .5 giving instructions in the use of the ship’s life-saving appliances and in survival at sea, on the ice or a combination of both, as appropriate.

  13.4.2.3 Rescue boat drills should be conducted as far as is reasonable and practicable with due consideration of the dangers of launching into polar ice-covered waters, if applicable.

  13.4.2.4 Individual instructions may cover different parts of the ship’s life-saving system, but all the ship’s life-saving equipment and appliances should be covered within any period of one month on passenger ships and two months on cargo ships. Each member of the crew should be given instructions which should include but not necessarily be limited to:

  • .1 problems of cold shock, hypothermia, first-aid treatment of hypothermia and other appropriate first-aid procedures;footnote and

  • .2 special instructions necessary for use of the ship’s life-saving appliances in severe weather and severe sea conditions on the ice or in a combination of water and ice cover.

  13.4.3 Fire drills

  13.4.3.1 Fire drill scenarios should vary each week so that emergency conditions are simulated for different ship compartments, with appropriate emphasis on those changes to standard procedures made necessary by operations in polar waters and low temperatures.

  13.4.3.2 Each fire drill should include elements required by SOLAS plus additional elements made necessary by operation in a polar environment.

  13.4.4 Damage Control

 Damage control drill scenarios should vary each week so that emergency conditions are simulated for different damage conditions with appropriate emphasis to those conditions resultant from operations in polar waters.

  13.4.5 Survival kits

  13.4.5.1 Where PSK and/or GSK are fitted, additional kits for training and demonstration purposes should be provided in accordance with paragraph 11.3.3.

  13.4.5.2 Training equipment should be maintained in good condition. A number of sewing kits and replacement parts (buttons, boot laces, etc.) should be kept on board for the purpose of minor repair to training kit items.

  13.4.5.3 PSK and GSK inspections should be carried out no less frequently than on an annual basis.

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