The information is non-exhaustive and all stakeholders are advised to contact relevant government agencies for specific advice.
Canada
Transport Canada Marine Safety Publications (Arctic Specific)
- Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System (AIRSS) Standard: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp12259-menu-605.htm
- Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System – Pictorial Guide: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp14044-menu-4544.html
- User Assistance Package for the Implementation of Arctic ice Regime Shipping System (AIRSS): http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp12819-menu-1338.htm
- Guidelines for Passenger Vessels Operating in the Canadian Arctic: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/guidelines-passenger-vessels-operating-canadian-arctic-tp13670e.html
- Survival in Cold Waters: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp13822-menu-610.htm
- Arctic Waters Oil Transfer Guidelines: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp10783-menu-1292.htm
- How to Meet STCW Requirements for Masters, Deck Officers, and other Crew members of Certain Canadian Ships Operating in Polar Waters, Ship Safety Bulletin 01/2018
Transport Canada Acts and Regulations (Arctic Specific)
- Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-12/
- Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2017-286/index.html
- Shipping Safety Control Zones Order: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._356/index.html
- Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-127/index.html
Other
- Transport Canada Arctic Shipping Website: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-arctic-menu-303.htm
- Canadian Ice Service’s Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/ice-forecasts-observations/latest-conditions.html
- Manual of Ice (MANICE): https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-arctic-menu-303.htm
- Ice Glossary: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/ice-forecasts-observations/latest-conditions/glossary.html
- Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/folios/00913/docs/ice-navigation-dans-les-galces-eng.pdf
- Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR): https://www.notmar.gc.ca/index-en.php
- Notices to Shipping: https://www.notmar.gc.ca/index-en.php
- Weather, climate and hazards: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather.html
- Canadian Aids to Navigation System (2011)
- Thirty Day Forecast, Canadian Ice Service
- Understanding and Identifying Old Ice in Summer, National Research Council of Canada
- Winter Navigation on the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence: Practical Notebook for Marine Engineers and Deck Officers (TP 14335)
- Guidelines for Assessing Ice Operational Risk (TP 15383)
- Cold Weather Marine Survival Guide (TP 11690)
- Marine Survival Handbook for Cold Regions (TP 11969)
- Navigational Warnings (NAVWARNS)
As of 4 December 2023, Transport Canada and its recognized Classification Societies, under the authority of the Government of Canada, have issued the following Polar Ship Certificates in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Kingdom of Denmark
Information from the Danish Maritime Authority, Danish Meteorological Institute and the Danish Geodata Agency:
- Relevant information in the form of national and international orders, regulations and guidelines that may help to navigate the Arctic region in a safe manner:
- From the Danish Maritime Institute, this page containes icecharts in Greenland and weather forecasts:
- This page, from the Danish Geodata Agency contains their information on navigation in Greenland
- Contact information:
Iceland
Hyperlink 1:Hyperlink 1: Icelandic Transport Authority
The Icelandic Transport Authority manages the administration of transport affairs and conducts oversight pertaining to aviation, maritime affairs, traffic and safety oversight of transport structures and navigation. The Icelandic Transport Authority issues certificates to seafarares and is responsible for Port State Control and Flag State Control and manages the Icelandic ship registry.
Hyperlink 2: Maritimes Acts and Regulations in English
A list of acts and regulations related to shipping in Icelandic waters from the Icelandic Transport Authority.
Hyperlink 3: Guidelines for masters of cruise and passenger ships arriving in Iceland (2019)
Joint guidelines from the Icelandic Transport Authority, the Icelandic Coast Guard and the Environment Agency of Iceland to:
- ensure that the masters of cruise and passenger ships comply with Icelandic laws and regulations.
- ensure that passenger ship tours and itineraries at sea and on land do not violate nature conservation and environmental laws of Iceland; and to
- to draw the attention of masters of passenger ships to the safety of their vessels and their passengers when visiting Iceland.
Hyperlink 4: The Icelandic Coast Guard
The Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) is a civilian law enforcement agency that is responsible for search and rescue, maritime safety and security surveillance, and law enforcement in the seas surrounding Iceland.
Hyperlink 5: The Environment Agency of Iceland
The Environment Agency operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. It's role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland’s natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods. The Agency is responsible for implementing the MARPOL convention.
Other links:
- Information on Weather and Sea State:
- http://www.vegagerdin.is/vs/Content_1016.aspx?la=en
- http://www.vegagerdin.is/vs/Today.aspx?la=en
- Contact e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Waves Weather Tides – North Atlantic:
- http://www.vegagerdin.is/vs/ArealKort.aspx
- Contact e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Icelandic Met Office:
- http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/mission/
- http://en.vedur.is/
- Contact e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Finland
Finland has been active in developing the IMO Polar Code and supporting its effective implementation at the IMO, the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty System. As a steward of sustainable shipping especially in cold ice-covered waters and a global leader in designing, building and innovating new solutions for icebreakers and other ice-going vessels, Finland wishes to keep contributing to the further development of safe and sustainable Arctic shipping as well as the development of the IMO Polar Code.Effective implementation of the Polar Code will increase the demand for specialised know-how and technology related to winter navigation and operating in a cold climate. Finland can offer a breadth of expertise in, for example, the design and building of ice-class vessels and icebreakers, as well as in environmental measuring technology and oil spill response in ice-covered waters. As all fairways to Finnish ports can freeze in wintertime, Finnish companies have also developed world-class products and solutions for fairway maintenance in icy waters. Specialised ice buyos and other navigational aids that withstand harsh winter conditions and heavy ice loads are produced in Finland.
To reinforce Arctic navigation skills and expertise, coordinated action is called for to develop training, research, administrative cooperation and, in particular, cooperation with the other Arctic countries. Owing to the nature of the competition and markets in the sector, contacts with the government agencies of other countries are essential. Often, the best practices developed in the Baltic Sea region offer highly suitable export products for the Arctic market. Moreover, Finland is in a position to offer new types of services to facilitate safe transportation and contribute to the preservation of the marine environment. Finland possesses first-rate expertise in mechanical oil recovery in ice conditions – a technology that is vital for Arctic sea areas.
Contacts in the Finnish Government for questions related to Arctic shipping and the IMO Polar Code:
Mr. Eero Hokkanen
Senior Specialist
Ministry of Transport and Communications
eero.hokkanen (a) lvm.fi
mob. +358 50 476 0401
https://www.lvm.fi/en/contact/-/showperson/hokkanene
Dr. Anita Mäkinen
Chief Adviser
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency
anita.makinen (a) traficom.fi
mob. +358 40 162 4592
Mr. Markus Karjalainen
Head of the Winter Navigation Unit
Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency
markus.karjalainen (a) vayla.fi
tel. +358 295 343 422
Ms. Ulla Lainio
Program Director, Arctic Maritime and Offshore
Business Finland
ulla.lainio (at) businessfinland.fi
mob. +358 40 343 3357
Links to responsible Government Agencies and key stakeholders:
- Certificates of proficiency in training for ships operating in polar waters (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom):
- Winter navigation in Finland (Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency):
- Snow and Sea-Ice in the northern hemisphere (Finnish Meteorological Institute):
- Arctic Space Centre of the Finnish Meteorological Institute:
- Finland as a global leader in icebreaker design, polar shipbuilding, ice technology, and fleet operation (Business Finland):
- Polar Code Combined Training (Maritime Training Center Aboa Mare):
- Icebreaker operator and maritime service provider Arctia Ltd.:
- Finnish Shipowners' Association:
Norway
Norwegian maritime Authority: https://www.sdir.no/en- Contact persons:
- Polar Code ( international regulations) Ms. Turid Stemre (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- National implementation of the Polar Code: Ms. Bodil Pedersen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Implementation of the Polar Code into Norwegian legislations:
- Recommendations for operation in polar waters for vessels not carrying a Polar Ship Certificate
- Information related to Svalbard:
- Governor of Svalbard: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/
- Ban on Heavy Fuel Oil in Svalbard: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/heavy-fuel-oil-ban-in-the-protected-areas/
- This page contains information from the Governor of Svalbard on the ban of heavy fuel oil. It is banned to use and/or carry it in specific waters around Svalbard.
- Regulations on the construction, equipment and operation of passenger ships in the territorial waters surrounding Svalbard
- Link to the reports from SARex excersices:
- Other information:
- Norwegian Coastal Administration website: http://www.kystverket.no/en
- Norwegian rescue services: https://www.hovedredningssentralen.no/english/
- Search and rescue in the Norwegian area of responsibility: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/articles/Search-and-rescue-in-the-Norwegian-area-of-responsibility/
- BarentsWatch: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Sea and High North areas: https://www.met.no/en/Sea-and-High-North-areas
- Norwegian Mapping Authority website: https://www.kartverket.no/en
Other information:
- Norwegian Coastal Administration website: http://www.kystverket.no/en
- Search and rescue in the Norwegian area of responsibility: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/articles/Search-and-rescue-in-the-Norwegian-area-of-responsibility/
- Norwegian rescue services: https://www.hovedredningssentralen.no/english/
- BarentsWatch: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Sea and High North areas: https://www.met.no/en/Sea-and-High-North-areas
- Governor of Svalbard: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/
- Specific rules for passenger vessels operating in Svalbard:
https://www.sdir.no/en/shipping/vessels/vessel-types/passenger-vessels/rules-for-passenger-ships-on-svalbard/
Sweden
Information from The Swedish Transport Agency:- Contact details for ship certificates: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- General contact details to the Swedish Transport Agency: https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/contact-us/
- General link to shipping: https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/shipping/
- Sweden has extensive involvement in Baltic shipping. We suggest looking at this link of the Swedish Maritime Administration which may have helpful guidance for ice operations that my be relevant to Arctic operations.
Russian Federation
The Northern Sea Route AdministrationThe website of the Northern Sea Route Administration contains important information for ship operators, including:
- Rules of navigation in the water area of Northern Sea Route
- The Russian Federal Law of Shipping in the Water Area of the Northern Sea Route
- Application for Admission and Enclosure to navigate in the Northern Sea Route Area
- Information about icebreaker assistance and ice pilotage
- Navigational and weather information
- Search and rescue, Prevention of pollution by oil, and;
- Contact information
Makarov Training Centre, St.Petersburg
Courses for masters, deck officers and crew members for ships operating in polar waters (basic and advanced training).
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Russia
This website contains generalized maps of the ice conditions of the Arctic Ocean, and other ice information (in Russian).
Among them 20 Certificates has been issued for Category A ships (GT 473016), 22 20 Certificates - for Category B ships (GT 140544) and 19 Certificates - for Category C ships (GT 75655), The type of ships, for which have been issued the Polar Ship Certificates: general cargo ships, oil tankers, passenger ships, icebreakers, salvage ships, supply ships, tugs, research ships, reefer ships, dredger ships.
The ships, for which has been issued the Polar Ship Certificates, have different ice classes of RS, which is equivalent to Category A, B and C ships as its defined by Polar Code and which are operated in polar water. Ships, which have not ice class or ice strengthening, have been issued the Polar Ship Certificates as for Category C ships with the relevant restriction of navigation (open water or separate ice).
United States of America
USA Contact Information:United States Coast Guard
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE
Stop 7501
Washington, D.C. 20593-7501
Staff Symbol: CG-CVC
Phone: +1-202-372-1224
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
These links provide information on Arctic voyage planning, navigation information and guidance, oceanographic and meteorological Information, and nautical charts and related Information from various U.S. government agencies.
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Polar Code: Frequently Asked Questions (26 June 2018)
- Guidelines for Qualifications of Personnel for Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations, CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-18 (19 June 2018)
- Guidelines for Training of Personnel on Ships Subject to the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), CG-OES Policy Letter 01-16: (2017)
- Final Rule: Polar Ship Certificates Required for Certain Ships Operating in Polar Waters, 82 Fed. Reg. 44108 (21 September 2017)
- Polar Code - MARPOL Applicability (9 January 2017)
- Polar Code - SOLAS Applicability (20 December 2016)
- Polar Code - Implementation (13 December 2016)
- Implementation of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), CG-CVC Policy Letter 16-06 (12 December 2016)
- Polar Code - Entry into Force (6 December 2016)
- Polar Code Blog
- U.S. Coast Guard District 17 (Alaska) Local Notice to Mariners (these notices are issued by each U.S. Coast Guard District to disseminate important information affecting navigational safety within that District. Notices report changes and deficiencies in aids to navigation maintained by the Coast Guard as well as other marine information such as new charts, channel depths, naval operations, and regattas)
- U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, Alaska
- U.S. Coast Guard Places of Refuge Policy (17 July 2007)
- U.S Coast Guard: Navigation Center website
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- IceBridge Sea Ice Freeboard, Snow Depth, and Thickness Quick Look
- IceSat-2 (The Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, measures the height of a changing Earth – one laser pulse at a time, 10,00 laser pulses a second. It allows scientists to measure the elevation of ice sheets and sea ice in unprecedented detail. ICESAT-2 applications are available here)
- MODIS (The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, is deployed on two satellites that orbit the Earth every 1 to 2 days acquiring data in 36 spectral bands, or groups of wavelengths These data improve our understanding of global dynamics and processes occurring on the land, in the oceans, and in the lower atmosphere.
- GMAO (The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office uses computer models and data assimilation to enhance NASA’s program of Earth Observations. The website This web site includes five major themes: "Weather Analysis and Prediction," "Seasonal-Decadal Analysis and Prediction," "Reanalysis," "Global Mesoscale Modeling," and "Observing System Science”)
- NISAR (the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR, satellite provides an unprecedented, detailed view of Earth. It is designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet’s most complex processes, including ice-sheet collapse and natural hazards such as tsunamis and landslides. NISAR applications are available here)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Arctic, Antarctic, and Polar Data - This page provides access to Arctic and Antarctic data, services, and information across NOAA line offices and partners.
- U.S. Arctic Voyage Planning Guide (the Guide is a compilation of official U.S. Government information and references to sources of information that may be consulted by mariners when planning a voyage into or through U.S. Arctic waters. It is not a navigation tool itself, but is a compilation of materials to give mariners a consolidated picture of conditions, regulations, navigation guidance and unique circumstances that should be considered during voyage planning)
- NOAA Chart Locator (download nautical charts and ENCs)
- NOAA Nautical Chart Online Viewer
- U.S. Coast Pilot (a series of nautical books that cover a variety of information important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters and the Great Lakes. Issued in nine volumes, they contain supplemental information that is difficult to portray on a nautical chart)
- NOAA Wrecks and Obstructions Database
- National Center for Environmental Intelligence Arctic Datasets
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab Arctic Zone compilation of hyperlinks to products and services such as:
- Arctic Report Card (latest annual update of changing conditions
- Monthly Sea Ice Outlook (from SEARCH/Arcus)
- NASA IceBridge Sea Ice Freeboard, Snow Depth, and Thickness Quick Look
- Arctic Daily Sea Ice Images
- MAISIE - Daily Sea Ice Extent product
- North Pole Real Time Weather Data
- Arctic Geophysics and Bathymetry
- Alaska Tides and Currents
- Alaska Tide Predictions
- Endangered Species and Critical Habitat Mapper (mapping application that provides approximate distributions for species protected by the US under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act)
-
Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) data, which can be used to supplement rigorous and scientific bathymetric coverage, can be accessed through the IHO Data Center for Digital Bathymetry's Data Viewer, hosted by NOAA NCEI.
- U.S. National Ice Center/Naval Ice Center (NATICE)
- U.S. NATICE Home Page (provides global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and other environmental intelligence services for the United States government)
- Current Daily Ice Analysis
- Snow and Ice Data
- Oceans and Sea Ice
- North American Ice Service
- North American Ice Service Products (The North American Ice Service provides year-round maritime safety information on iceberg and sea ice conditions in the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the east coast of Labrador, Canada. The purpose of the NAIS Iceberg Bulletin and Chart is to advise mariners of the estimated iceberg extent within the region)
- U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- Arctic Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) is NGA’s foundational Arctic data (e.g., elevation, physical and human geography) developed for decision support
- Global Maritime Traffic Density Service (GMTDS) provides a uniform monthly ship activity density metric represented at a 1-km resolution for the entire globe
- Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) 2018 Concept Development Study assessed the current state of the MSDI
- Maritime Safety Information (MSI) covers Arctic waters. Examples of NGA’s MSI are: World Port Index (location, physical, and service characteristics for major ports and terminals), Sailing Directions Planning Guides (including Arctic Ocean, 13 Ed. 2020), Sailing Directions Enroute (detailed coastal and port approach information), and Navigational Warnings, including HYDROARC Reports (maritime hazards to surface ships and submarines in the international waters of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent northern seas)
- U.S. Committee on the Maritime Transportation System
- State of Alaska
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response
- Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK)
- MXAK is a nonprofit maritime organization that provides to its members information that aids safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sound maritime operations in waters around Alaska. MXAK operates a vessel tracking network composed of over 140 AIS and marine safety stations in Alaska
Non-Arctic States
- Italy: Polar Code Requirements
- France:
- Report of the SAREX nearby the North Pole, on September 7th 2021, with Le Commadant Charcot & Russian, Norwegian, Greenlandic/Danish, Canadian, US SAR.
- Author: Captain Patrick Marchessau, Master of Le Cpmmadant Charcot, October 2021
- Report of the SAREX nearby the North Pole, on September 7th 2021, with Le Commadant Charcot & Russian, Norwegian, Greenlandic/Danish, Canadian, US SAR.
- United Kingdom:
- The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a marine guidance note (MGN 632 (M+F)) providing updated guidance and clarification for aspects of MARPOL Annex V, polar code and merchant shipping (prevention of pollution by garbage from ships) regulations 2020. (9/21/20): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/919758/MGN_632_-_Amendment_1.pdf
POLAR SHIP CERTIFICATES