Section 1 General

1.1.1 The requirements of these Rules apply to ships intended to navigate in cold climates and may be exposed to low temperatures that may cause equipment to freeze due to ice accretion from atmospheric icing or sea spray, or due to freezing of liquid within a system. Protection measures are to be provided and operational procedures are to be specified to ensure that equipment is suitably protected to enable operation in low temperatures.

1.1.2 Compliance with these Rules is optional, and the requirements are additional to those applicable in other Parts and Chapters of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022.

1.1.3 Additional requirements may be imposed by the National Authority with which the ship is registered and/or by the Administration within whose territorial jurisdiction it is intended to operate.

1.1.4 It is the responsibility of the Owner to determine which Winterisation notations, and design air temperatures, are most suitable for a particular ship's operational requirements.

1.1.5 Where an Ice Class notation is to be assigned in addition to a Winterisation notation, the requirements of Pt 8 Rules for Ice and Cold Operations of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 are to be complied with.

1.1.6 Where an Environmental Protection (ECO) notation is to be assigned in addition to a Winterisation notation the requirements of Pt 7, Ch 11 Arrangements and Equipment for Environmental Protection (ECO Class Notation) of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 are to be complied with.

1.1.7 Where a Safe Return to Port (SRtP) notation is to be assigned in addition to a Winterisation notation the requirements of Pt 5, Ch 23 Additional Requirements for Passenger Ships of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 are to be complied with.

1.1.8 Where a machinery redundancy (PMR, SMR or PSMR) notation is to be assigned in addition to a Winterisation notation the requirements of Pt 5, Ch 22 Propulsion and Steering Machinery Redundancy of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 are to be complied with.

1.1.9 Unconventional or alternative arrangements, including any operational characteristics, are to have a detailed assessment, see Pt 7, Ch 14 Requirements for Machinery and Engineering Systems of Unconventional Design of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022.

1.2.1 The Winterisation Rules are subdivided into various aspects as shown in Table 1.1.1 Winterisation notations.

1.2.2 Ships complying with the requirements of these Rules may be eligible for one or more of the following notations. These notations are optional and may be considered separately, and assigned independently with different specified temperatures:

1. Hull construction materials

   Winterisation H(t) denotes compliance with Ch 1, 2 Materials for hull construction at low temperatures – Winterisation H in association with an external design air temperature of t degrees Celsius, e.g. Winterisation H(-35).

2. Equipment and systems materials

   Winterisation M(t) denotes compliance with Ch 1, 3 Materials for equipment and components at low temperatures – Winterisation M in association with an external design air temperature of t degrees Celsius, e.g. Winterisation M(-35).

3. Equipment and systems materials enhanced

   Winterisation MEn(t) denotes compliance with Ch 1, 4 Materials for equipment and components at low temperatures enhanced – Winterisation MEn in association with an external design air temperature of t degrees Celsius, e.g. Winterisation MEn(-35).

4. Equipment and systems

   Winterisation A(t) , Winterisation B(t) or Winterisation C(t) denotes compliance with Ch 1, 5 Equipment and systems – Winterisation C, Ch 1, 6 Equipment and systems – Winterisation B or Ch 1, 7 Equipment and systems – Winterisation A in association with an external design air temperature of t degrees Celsius e.g. Winterisation B(-35).

5. Stability

   Winterisation S(A), Winterisation S(B) or Winterisation S(C) denotes compliance with Ch 1, 10 Stability due to ice accretion – Winterisation S in association with the specified ice accretion values. Where multiple winterisation notations are specified they may be combined into one notation, e.g. Winterisation H(t) B(t) S(A) .

1.2.3 Application of the Rules is to be based on the external design air temperature, see Ch 1, 1.4 Definitions. This temperature does not apply to continuous operation, but is based on a distribution of operational time around an average temperature, assumed to be –10°C for normal worldwide operation, see Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.1 Grades of steel 2.1.4 of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022. Therefore, the duration of time for ship operations at temperatures below the average temperature will decrease to a minimum at the lowest temperature, and thus the operating time at the lowest temperature is assumed to be minimal.

1.2.4 Guidance on selection of a suitable winterisation level is given in Table 1.1.2 Guidance on operational scenarios for Winterisation requirements.

1.2.5 For assignment of Winterisation A(t) , the IMO Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters: MSC/Circular.1056 – Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters – (Adopted on 23 December 2002)MEPC/Circ. 399 are to be complied with, where applicable, in addition to the requirements of these Rules. This may be demonstrated by the issue of a statement by the Administration, or another organisation acceptable to LR, that the requirements of the Guidelines have been met and that their continued acceptability is demonstrated by annual surveys.

1.2.6 The application of these Rules is not to reduce the effectiveness of equipment and systems required by other Clasifications Register (hereinafter referred to as LR) Rules or mandatory statutory requirements.

1.2.7 These winterisation features, which are required to comply with these Rules for the selected notation, are supplementary to any other classification or statutory requirements which are applicable to the ship. As such, these Rules are not intended to duplicate, alter, amend or supersede any requirements that may be imposed by the National Authority or Administrations.

1.3.1 For Winterisation H(t) , details of material grades are to be included on the hull structure plans required for submission by Pt 3, Ch 1, 5.2 Plans and supporting calculations of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022.

1.3.2 For Winterisation levels A(t) , B(t) and C(t) a Winterisation Manual is to be submitted. The Winterisation Manual is to contain the following detailed information in order to demonstrate that the design and installation of winterisation features of the ship complies with Ch 1, 5 Equipment and systems – Winterisation C, Ch 1, 6 Equipment and systems – Winterisation B or Ch 1, 7 Equipment and systems – Winterisation A:

1. General arrangement highlighting winterisation features and design temperatures.

2. List of winterisation equipment and systems.

3. Details of main/auxiliary engines arrangements, see Ch 1, 5.2 Winterisation of machinery – General requirements and Ch 1, 5.3 Winterisation of main propulsion and essential auxiliary engines.

4. Details of materials specification/heating arrangements for exposed pipework/components, see Ch 1, 5.4 Winterisation of auxiliary machinery systems and deck working areas.

5. Details of anchoring/mooring and deck crane arrangements, see Ch 1, 5.5 Winterisation of anchoring/mooring equipment and deck cranes.

6. Details of materials specification/heating arrangements for exposed electrical cables/components, see Ch 1, 5.6 Winterisation of electrical installations.

7. Details of winterisation of emergency appliances, see Ch 1, 5.7 Winterisation of emergency appliances.

8. Details of heating arrangements for spaces, see Ch 1, 5.8 Winterisation of spaces/compartments 5.8.3.

9. Details of accommodation and escape route arrangements, see Ch 1, 5.9 Winterisation of accommodation and escape routes.

10. Details of tank heating, see Ch 1, 5.10 Winterisation of tanks.

11. Inventory and locations of ice removal measures, see Ch 1, 5.11 Ice removal and prevention measures.

12. Details of operational and maintenance procedures e.g.

• Continuous circulation of fluids and/or heating media.
• Use of heating arrangements in sub-zero temperatures.
• Application of silicone spray or other suitable low temperature films to door/hatch seals.
• Application of low temperature lubricants.
• Use of antifreeze in liquid filled pressure/vacuum breakers in inert gas lines on tankers.
• Use of antifreeze in emergency generators and lifeboat/rescue boat engines.
• Use of fuel oil for emergency generators and lifeboat/rescue boat engines that is suitable for low temperature conditions.
• Use of low temperature grease for lifeboat/rescue boat davits/sheaves/release hooks and for radar motors.
• Use of suitable antifreeze solutions for bridge window cleaning.
• Steam heating coil condensate evacuation (draining) if and when heating coils are redundant.

1.3.3 For Winterisation S(A), S(B) and S(C), details of the trim and stability conditions, and calculations, are to be submitted in order to demonstrate that the design of the ship complies with Ch 1, 10 Stability due to ice accretion – Winterisation S.

1.3.4 Where an alternative design is used for Winterisation D(t) , as described in Ch 1, 12.1 Alternative design, the Winterisation Manual is to be submitted based on an agreed specification list confirmed by the Shipbuilder and Owner with reference to the intended operation, ship type and arrangement.

1.3.5 Details of the average design external air temperature, lowest design external temperature and design internal air temperature/ambient conditions for spaces within the ship, are to be agreed with the Owner and Shipbuilder. These details are to include machinery spaces, habitable spaces, those commonly accessed and any other spaces where the temperature will differ. See Ch 1, 1.4 Definitions, Ch 1, 5.8 Winterisation of spaces/compartments 5.8.1 and Ch 1, 5.8 Winterisation of spaces/compartments 5.8.3.

1.3.6 Temperatures are to be rounded down to the nearest integer, e.g. –21,5°C is to be –22°C.

1.3.7 A copy of the Winterisation Manual is to be placed onboard the ship.

1.4.1 Mean Daily Low Temperature (Ty). The mean daily low temperature is to be taken as the lowest mean daily low air temperature in the area of operation. For seasonally restricted service the lowest value within the period of operation applies. Where reliable environmental records for contemplated operational areas exist, the lowest external design air temperature may be obtained after the exclusions of all recorded values having a probability of occurrence of less than 3 per cent.

Figure 1.1.1 Design air temperature shows the definition graphically.

Figure 1.1.1 Design air temperature

1.4.2 External design air temperature (t). The external design air temperature is to be taken as the lowest mean daily low air temperature in the area of operation for the season of operation (T_y) minus 10 degrees Celsius ( t = T_y – 10). For example: T_y = -20^oC, t = -30^oC.

1.4.3 Where a Polar Service Temperature is defined for compliance with the IMO Polar Code, the external design air temperature (t) used in these rules is to be taken as the Polar Service Temperature.

1.4.4  Design internal air temperature/ambient conditions. The design parameters for the heating systems for accommodation and heated spaces (to be defined for each individual space). See Ch 1, 1.3 Information required 1.3.5.

1.4.5  Covers. Materials and arrangements used to protect items or equipment. These may be fixed type, such as mild steel, or removable, such as PVC coated nylon or other water resistant material and are to completely cover the item of equipment without impairing its function.

1.4.6  Heating arrangements. Equipment and systems used to provide heat by means of electrical, steam, oil or other means.

1.4.7  Ice removal measures. Ship services or tools used to facilitate the removal of ice by means of steam, hot water or hot air, manual tools, de-icing compounds or other means.

1.4.8  Protected locations. Locations behind walls, screens, bulkheads and equipment, located inboard and recessed, onboard the ship and providing protection from icing.