Chapter 3 – Subdivision and Stability
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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 A – Construction Provisions - Chapter 3 – Subdivision and Stability

Chapter 3 – Subdivision and Stability

3.1 General

 Account should be taken of the effect of icing in the stability calculations in accordance with the 2008 IS Code.

3.2 Intact stability in ice

  3.2.1 Suitable calculations should be carried out and/or tests conducted to demonstrate the following:

  • .1 the ship, when operated in ice within approved limitations, during a disturbance causing roll, pitch, heave or heel due to turning or any other cause, should maintain sufficient positive stability; and

  • .2 ships of Polar Classes 1 to 3 and icebreakers of all classes, when riding up in ice and remaining momentarily poised at the lowest stem extremity, should maintain sufficient positive stability.

  3.2.2 “Sufficient positive stability” in paragraphs 3.2.1.1 and 3.2.1.2 means that the ship is in a state of equilibrium with a positive metacentric height of at least 150 mm, and a line 150 mm below the edge of the freeboard deck as defined in the applicable ICLL, is not submerged.

  3.2.3 For performing stability calculations on ships that ride up onto the ice, the ship should be assumed to remain momentarily poised at the lowest stem extremity as follows:

  • .1 for a regular stem profile, at the point at which the stem contour is tangent to the keel line;

  • .2 for a stem fitted with a structurally defined skeg, at the point at which the stem contour meets the top of the skeg;

  • .3 for a stem profile where the skeg is defined by shape alone, at the point at which the stem contour tangent intersects the tangent of the skeg; or

  • .4 for a stem profile of novel design, the position should be specially considered.

3.3 Stability in damaged conditions

  3.3.1 All Polar Class ships should be able to withstand flooding resulting from hull penetration due to ice impact. The residual stability following ice damage should be such that the factor si, as defined in SOLAS regulation II-1/7.2, has si = 1 for all loading conditions.

  3.3.2 The ice damage extent to be assumed when demonstrating compliance with paragraph 3.3.1 should be such that:

  • .1 longitudinal extent 0.045 of deepest ice waterline length if centred forward of the point of maximum beam on the waterline, and 0.015 of waterline length otherwise;

  • .2 transverse extent is 760 mm measured normal to the shell over the full extent of the damage;

  • .3 vertical extent the lesser of 0.2 of draft at the upper waterlinefootnote, or of longitudinal extent;

  • .4 the centre of the ice damage may be located at any point between the keel and 1.2 times the deepest ice draft; and

  • .5 the vertical extent of damage may be assumed to be confined between the keel and 1.2 times the deepest ice draft.

  3.3.3 Damage as defined in paragraph 3.3.2 is to be assumed at any position along the side shell.

  3.3.4 For ships of Polar Classes 6 and 7 not carrying polluting or hazardous cargoes, damage as defined in paragraph 3.3.2 may be assumed to be confined between watertight bulkheads, except where such bulkheads are spaced at less than the damage dimension.

3.4 Subdivision

  3.4.1 Subject to paragraphs 3.4.2 and 3.4.3, no Polar Class ship should carry any pollutant directly against the outer shell. Any pollutant should be separated from the outer shell of the ship by double skin construction of at least 760 mm in width.

  3.4.2 All Polar Class ships should have double bottoms over the breadth and the length between forepeak and afterpeak bulkheads. Double bottom height should be in accordance with the rules of the classification societies in force. Double bottoms should not be used for the carriage of pollutants except where a double skin construction complying with paragraph 3.4.1 is provided, or where working liquids are carried in way of main machinery spaces in tanks not exceeding 20 m3 individual volume.

  3.4.3 Double bottoms in ships of Polar Classes 6 and 7 may be used for the carriage of any working liquids where the tanks are aft of midships and within the flat of bottom.

  3.4.4 All Polar Class ships with icebreaking bow forms and short forepeaks may dispense with double bottoms up to the forepeak bulkhead in the area of the inclined stem, provided that the watertight compartments between the forepeak bulkhead and the bulkhead at the junction between the stem and the keel are not used to carry pollutants.


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