Section 2 Ice environment

2.1.1 This Section is intended to give assistance on the selection of a suitable ice class notation for the operation of ships in ice-covered regions.

2.1.2 The Owner is to confirm which notation is most suitable for their requirements. Ultimately, the responsibility rests with the master of the ship and their assessment of the ice and temperature conditions at the time.

2.1.3 The documentation supplied to the ship is to contain the ice class notation adopted, any operation limits for the ship and guidance on the type of ice that can be navigated for the nominated ice class.

2.2.1 The World Meteorological Organisation's, WMO, definitions for sea ice thickness are given in Table 1.2.1 WMO defintion of ice conditions.

2.2.2  Table 1.2.2 Comparison of ice Standards defines the ice classes in relation to the Rules and the equivalent Internationally Recognised Standards.

2.3.1 The variable nature of ice conditions is such that the average limits of the conditions are not easily defined. However, it is possible to plot the probable limits of the ice flows and the ice edge for each season. See Figure 1.2.1 Ice Limits for the Arctic Winter to Figure 1.2.4 Ice Limits for the Antarctic Summer, and Table 1.2.3 Concentration of ice.

2.3.2 Operation with Ice Class 1C FS may be possible up to 150 nm inside the 7/10 region shown depending on the severity of the winter. Operation with Ice Class 1A FS may be possible up to 150 nm inside the medium first-year ice shown depending on the severity of the winter. Operation up to the multi-year ice is possible most years with Ice Class 1AS FS.

2.3.3 Operation in the region between 7/10 and 1/10 in the ice-covered regions is possible with due care for ships with no ice class. For ships operating for extended periods in these areas, it will be necessary to specify and design for a minimum temperature for the hull materials. To cover all situations for a non-ice class ship, the material requirements of the Rules for the Winterisation of Ships, July 2022 are recommended.

2.4.1 Where the requirements of Chapter 2 are complied with, the ship will be eligible for a special features notation as defined in Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.1 Definitions 2.1.10, see also Table 1.1.1 Ice and cold operations.

2.4.2 In general, an Ice Class Notation contained in this Part of the Rules will only be assigned where the vessel has been assigned a LMC notation. A LMC notation may be accepted where ice class machinery items are not included within the scope of the propulsion arrangements for acceptance of a manufacturer’s certificate, see Pt 1, Ch 1 General Regulations.

2.5.1 Certain areas of operation may require compliance or demonstration of equivalence with National Authority requirements. Table 1.2.2 Comparison of ice Standards gives the equivalence of National Authority requirements.

2.5.2 The standards of ice strengthening required by the Rules have been accepted by the Finnish and Swedish Boards of Navigation as being such as to warrant assignment of the Ice Classes given in Table 1.2.2 Comparison of ice Standards.

2.5.3 Ships intending to navigate in the Canadian Arctic must comply with the Canadian Arctic Shipping Safety Pollution Prevention Regulations under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

2.5.4 The Canadian Arctic areas have been divided into shipping safety control zones relative to the severity of the ice conditions experienced and, in addition to geographic boundaries, each zone has seasonal limits affecting the necessary Ice Class notation required to permit operations at a particular time of year. It is the responsibility of the Owner to determine which notation is most suitable for their requirements.

2.5.5 Except as otherwise provided by the Canadian Arctic Shipping Safety Pollution Prevention Regulations, Canadian vessels in polar waters and foreign vessels in a shipping safety control zone must conform to the requirements of Chapter XIV - Safety Measures for Ships Operating in Polar Waters of SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

2.5.6 For ships intending to navigate in Finnish-Swedish waters and having a Polar Ice Class notation, consideration may need to be given to the installed engine power such that it complies with the applicable Finnish-Swedish Ice Class Rules, see Pt 8, Ch 2, 7 Machinery requirements for first-year ice conditions – Ice Classes 1AS FS(+), IAS FS, 1A FS, 1A FS(+), 1B FS, 1B FS(+), 1C FS(+) and 1C FS.

2.6.1 Charts and images for the current and recent ice conditions in all areas of the world plus information on icebergs can be found from the National Ice Centre on the world wide web at:

www.natice.noaa.gov

2.6.2 Daily ice information and consultation is available from the Canadian ice service which is part of the Canadian department of the environment. Their web site can be found at:

www.ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca