1 – Operational capabilities and limitations
Chapter 1 Operation in ice
1.1 Operator guidance for safe operation
Guidance: The PWOM should establish the means by which decisions as to whether
ice conditions exceed the ship's design limits should be made, taking into account
the operational limitations on the Polar Ship Certificate. An appropriate decision
support system, such as the Canada's Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System, and/or the
Russian Ice Certificate as described in the Rules of Navigation on the water area of
the Northern Sea Route, can be used... Bridge personnel should be trained in the
proper use of the system to be utilized. For ships that will operate only in
ice-free waters, procedures to ensure that will keep the ship from encountering ice
should be established.
1.2 Icebreaking capabilities
Guidance: The PWOM should provide information on the ice conditions in which
the ship can be expected to make continuous progress. This may be drawn, for example
from numerical analysis, model test or from ice trials. Information on the influence
of ice strength for new or decayed ice and of snow cover may be included.
1.3 Manoeuvring in ice
1.4 Special features
Guidance: Where applicable, the PWOM should include the results of any
equivalency analyses made to determine Polar Ship category/ice class. The manual
should also provide information on the use of any specialized systems fitted to
assist in ice operations.
Chapter 2 Operation in low air temperatures
2.1 System design
Guidance: The PWOM should list all ship systems susceptible to damage or loss
of functionality by exposure to low temperatures, and the measures to be adopted to
avoid malfunction.
Chapter 3 Communication and navigation capabilities in high
latitudes
Guidance:The PWOM should identify any restrictions to operational
effectiveness of communications and navigational equipment that may result from
operating in high latitudes.
Chapter 4 Voyage duration
Guidance: The PWOM should provide information on any limitations on ship
endurance such as fuel tankage, fresh water capacity, provision stores, etc. This
will normally only be a significant consideration for smaller ships, or for ships
planning to spend extended periods in ice.
Division 2 – Ship operations
Chapter 1 Strategic planning
Assumptions used in conducting the analyses referred to below should be included in
the Manual.
1.1 Avoidance of hazardous ice
Guidance: For ships operating frequently in polar waters, the PWOM should
provide information with respect to periods during which the ship should be able to
operate for intended areas of operation. Areas that pose particular problems, e.g.
chokepoints, ridging, as well as worst recorded ice conditions should be noted.
Where the available information is limited or of uncertain quality, this should be
recognized and noted as a risk for voyage planning.
1.2 Avoidance of hazardous temperatures
Guidance: For ships operating frequently in polar waters, the PWOM should
provide information with respect to, the daily mean daily low temperature as well as
the minimum recorded temperature for each of the days during the intended operating
period. Where the available information is limited or of uncertain quality, this
should be recognized as a risk for voyage planning.
1.3 Voyage duration and endurance
Guidance: Procedures to establish requirements for supplies should be
established, and appropriate safety levels for safety margins determined taking into
account various scenarios, e.g. slower than expected steaming, course alterations,
adverse ice conditions, places of refuge and access to provisions. Sources for and
availability of fuel types should be established, taking into account long lead
times required for deliveries.
1.4 Human resources management
Guidance: The PWOM should provide guidance for the human resources management,
taking into account the anticipated ice conditions and requirements for ice
navigation, increased levels of watch keeping, hours of rest, fatigue and a process
that ensures that these requirements will be met.
Chapter 2 Arrangements for receiving forecasts of environmental
conditions
Guidance: The PWOM should set out the means and frequency for provision of ice
and weather information. Where a ship is intended to operate in or in the presence
of ice, the manual should set out when weather and ice information is required and
the format for the information.
When available, the information should include both global and localized forecasts
that will identify weather and ice patterns/regimes that could expose the ship to
adverse conditions.
The frequency of updates should provide enough advance notice that the ship can take
refuge or use other methods of avoiding the hazard if the conditions are forecast to
exceed its capabilities.
The PWOM may include use of a land-based support information provider an effective
method of sorting through available information, thereby providing the ship only
with information that is relevant, reducing demands on the ship's communications
systems. The manual may also indicate instances in which additional images should be
obtained and analysed, as well as where such additional information may be
obtained.
2.1 Ice information
Guidance:The PWOM should include or refer to guidance on how radar should be
used to identify ice floes, how to tune the radar to be most effective, instructions
on how to interpret radar images, etc. If other technologies are to be used to
provide ice information, their use should also be described.
2.2 Meteorological information
Chapter 3 Verification of hydrographic, meteorological and navigational
information
Guidance : The PWOM should provide guidance on the use of hydrographic
information as further described in the additional guidance to chapter 10.
Chapter 4 Operation of Special Equipment
4.1 Navigation systems
4.2 Communications systems
Chapter 5 Procedures to maintain equipment and system
functionality
5.1 Icing prevention and de-icing
Guidance: The PWOM should provide guidance on how to prevent or mitigate icing
by operational means, how to monitor and assess ice accretion, how to conduct
de-icing using equipment available on the ship, and how to maintain the safety of
the ship and its crew during all of these aspects of the operation.
5.2 Operation of seawater systems
Guidance: The PWOM should provide guidance on how to monitor, prevent or
mitigate ice ingestion by seawater systems when operating in ice or in low water
temperatures. This may include recirculation, use of low rather than high suctions,
etc.
5.3 Procedures for low temperature operations
Guidance: The PWOM should provide guidance on maintaining and monitoring any
systems and equipment that are required to be kept active in order to ensure
functionality; e.g. by trace heating or continuous working fluid circulation.
Division 3 – Risk
management
Chapter 1 Risk mitigation in limiting environmental condition
1.1 Measures to be considered in adverse ice conditions
Guidance: The PWOM should contain guidance for the use of low speeds in the
presence of hazardous ice. Procedures should also be set for enhanced watchkeeping
and lookout manning in situations with high risks from ice, e.g. in proximity to
icebergs, operation at night, and other situations of low visibility. When
possibilities for contact with hazardous ice exist, procedures should address
regular monitoring, e.g. soundings/inspections of compartments and tanks below the
waterline.
1.2 Measures to be considered in adverse temperature conditions
Guidance: The PWOM should contain guidance on operational restrictions in the
event that temperatures below the ships polar service temperature are encountered or
forecast. These may include delaying the ship, postponing the conduct of certain
types of operation, using temporary heating, and other risk mitigation measures.
Chapter 2 Emergency response
Guidance: In general, where the possibility of encountering low air
temperatures, sea ice, and other hazards is present, the PWOM should provide
guidance on procedures that will increase the effectiveness of emergency response
measures.
2.1 Damage control
Guidance: the PWOM should consider damage control measures arrangements for
emergency transfer of liquids and access to tanks and spaces during salvage
operations.
2.2 Firefighting
2.4 Escape and evacuation
Guidance: Where supplementary or specialized lifesaving equipment is carried
to address the possibilities of prolonged durations prior to rescue, abandonment
onto ice or adjacent land, or other aspects specific to polar operations, the PWOM
should contain guidance on the use of the equipment and provision for appropriate
training and drills.
Chapter 3 Coordination with emergency response services
3.1 Ship emergency response
Guidance: The PWOM should include procedures to be followed in preparing for a
voyage and in the event of an incident arising.
3.2 Salvage
Guidance: The PWOM should include procedures to be followed in preparing for a
voyage and in the event of an incident arising.
3.3 Search and rescue
Guidance: The PWOM should contain information on identifying relevant Rescue
Coordination Centres for any intended routes, and should require that contact
information and procedures be verified and updated as required as part of any voyage
plan.
Chapter 4 Procedures for maintaining life support and ship integrity in the
event of prolonged entrapment by ice.
Guidance: Where any ship incorporates special features to mitigate safety or
environmental risks due to prolonged entrapment by ice, the PWOM should provide
information on how these are to be set up and operated. This may include, for
example, adding additional equipment to be run from emergency switchboards, draining
systems at risk of damage through freezing, isolating parts of HVAC systems,
etc.
4.1 System configuration
4.2 System operation
Division 4 – Joint operations
Chapter 1 Escorted operations
Guidance: The PWOM should contain or reference information on the rules and
procedures set out by coastal States who require or offer icebreaking escort
services. The manual should also emphasize the need for the master to take account
of the ship's limitations in agreeing on the conduct of escort operations.
Chapter 2 Convoy operations