Polar Ship Operations

Rules and Guidelines

Operating ships within any ice regime, whether it be multiyear or first year ice, requires knowledge and skill above that of many mariners.  General operating parameters considered for ships operating in Polar regions may be just as applicable to any ice regime.  None the less, the mariner and the ship owner must take into consideration the additional skill and knowledge requirements.  Many jurisdictions require vessels operating within their waters when ice is present to carry suitably trained and experienced Ice Navigators or Ice Pilots in addition to and to complement regular crew.

Ship operators and coastal states whose waters are subject to ice cover are constantly reminded of the risks involved in operating ships in ice.  Several countries, including Canada (Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act), Russia and Baltic States (Rule for Winter Navigation 2003-2004 Finland) have developed guidelines for and standards expected of bridge officers onboard ships operating in ice.  At a more local level, numerous ports include guidance and vessel operating directives to prevent ship and port ice damage (e.g.: Riga Port Regulations - Sect. 11 Ice Navigation). 

IMO approved the draft Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters in December 2002 to meet basic needs for vessels operating within Arctic ice regimes.  This document is based on input from various nations with experience in operations in ice covered waters where more difficult conditions exist than those experienced in waters that experience seasonal coverage .  A large part of the basis of the IMO Guidelines were the Ice Navigator Standards, developed for Transport Canada and co-authored by Captain Snider.  A similar document is in the process of development within the Antarctic Treaty System to cover Antarctic ice regimes.  Details of the Antarctic guidelines are covered in the GAUSS publication, Specific Requirements for Shipping in Antarctic Waters and the British proposal, Draft Antarctic Shipping Guidelines submitted to the ATS in June 2003 at Madrid.

Reference Publications and Resources

Various publications highlight some of the considerations to be taken into account before, during and after operating within an ice regime whether that regime is polar, or sub-polar.  The Nautical Institute monograph Ice Seamanship , by Captain George Q Parnell FNI offers a basic but now somewhat dated précis on operations in ice regimes for typical commercial ships.  "Navigation in Ice Infested Waters and Icebreaker Assistance" written by Captain Antti Haapio and published by the MERITURVA Marine Safety Training Centre in Finland presents a more updated view on ship operations in ice.  The Canadian Coast Guard publication, Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters provides the mariner with the tools and pointers necessary to operate within regimes that come under Canadian jurisdiction, but can be considered an invaluable resource for the mariner operating in ice regimes anywhere on the globe.  Captain Snider co-authored the Arctic Passage Planning Manual for Transport Canada which was incorporated into section 2.4 Passage Planning in ice covered waters.   Valuable information of a general nature on ice, and operating in ice is available in Chapter 8 Ice, of the UKHO publication The Mariners Handbook (NP100).  The American Practical Navigator also provides a general overview of ice navigation practices in Chapter 33 - Ice Navigation. Various national Sailing Directions and pilot books can provide more data to aid the mariner.

A number of specialist publications are available, dealing with specific operations in ice regimes.  Captain Peter Dunderdale's "Marine Towing in Ice Covered Waters" provides the mariner with a very detailed practical guideline for conducting any towing operations in ice.

Other government regulations, codes and guidelines of interest to any mariner anticipating operating within ice regimes may be found at Martech Polar's Publications page.

Basics of Passage Planning in Ice Regimes

Preparation for Entering Ice

Basics of Ship Handling in Ice