Arctic Council Working Group

Chapter 10: Communication (Part IA)

Chapter summary:

Chapter 10 provides for effective communications for ships and survival craft during normal and emergency situations, including explicit requirements for search and rescue (SAR) and telemedical assistance communications. Communication equipment on board shall have the capabilities for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, taking into account the limitations of communications systems in high latitudes and the anticipated low temperatures. There must also be specific sound signaling equipment for use when under escort. Low temperature capability of communication equipment must be demonstrated by both ships and survival crafts. In respect of survival craft, equipment must be operable for the maximum expected time of rescue. These are set out in the text of Chapter 10 below, and in the Part 1B Additional Guidance.

Submissions

Hyperlink: Eagle.org

ABS is a leading international classification organization devoted to promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine and offshore assets.

The ABS IMO Polar Code Advisory has a few sections that offer guidance to the marine industry on communications in Polar Waters.

Hyperlink: IMO Polar Code
Follow this link for DNV GL’s guide to the Polar Code Document ‘Maritime Polar Code: Understand the Code’s requirements to take the right steps for smooth compliance’. For Chapter 10, see page 25.

See also:

Hyperlink: http://www.bsis-ice.de/IcePortal/
The Ice Logistics Portal (http://www.bsis-ice.de/IcePortal/) is operated by the German Hydrographic Service. This site provides convenient access to current ice charts produced by all of the national ice services in PDF and GIF formats as well as S-411 code for import to Electronic Navigation Chart System. Additionally, the site provides links to background ice information and coding standards. The ice information available on the Ice Logistics Portal is critical for voyage planning and navigation in Polar Regions. The information on the portal is not new but duplicates current ice chart data available on national ice service websites. It alleviates the need for mariners to be familiar with all of those sites and is more appropriate for the ASBPIF than an extensive listing of individual ice service websites.

IICWG website

Hyperlink 1: The Polar Code by Lloyds
Lloyd's provides information and assistance for users to comply with the Polar Code. Lloyd's interactive toolkit allows users to work through the Code on their own terms and download Lloyd's register free guidance, templates and examples to help understand and meet compliance needs.

Hyperlink 2: Lloyd's Polar Code Resources
Lloyd's also provides guidance documents on; the Operational Assessment, setting operational limitations (limitation wording), determining the Operating Envelope and LR’s How to use POLARIS.

Hyperlink 3: The Polar Code: A Regulatory Interpretation Guide
This document provides Loyd's Register guidance on all aspects of the Polar Code (chapter by chapter). For Chapter 10, see the LR Regulatory Guide pages 57 to 60.

Lloyd's Register website.

Hyperlink 1: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 10, see pages 9-10, 12, and 15-18.

Hyperlink 2: Offshore Vessel Operations In Ice and or Severe Sub Zero Temperatures in Artic and Sub Artic regions (2014).
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to operators and charterers of offshore support vessels employed for use in areas impacted by ice or severe sub-zero temperatures with the aim of encouraging high standards of safety and environmental protection for those operating in Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions.

Hyperlink: https://community.wmo.int/technical- regulations-and-guidance
WMO provides its guidance documents to support shipping in the Arctic Waters.

  • The WMO No. 558 Manual on the Marine Meteorological Services is designated to facilitate cooperation in respect of the international coordination of marine meteorological services (MMS); to specify obligations of Members in the implementation of MMS; and to ensure uniformity in the practices and procedures employed in achieving these.
  • The WMO No. 471 Guide to the Marine Meteorological Services is to describe the requirements for the various types of service; to explain the rationale for the agreed methods of providing services; and to give guidance on how to set up and maintain marine meteorological services.
  • The WMO No. 574 ‘Sea Ice Services in the World’ contains a description of sea ice, methods of observation and the basis of ice information services; It also lists the sea-ice information services of 17 countries according to region, describing organization, data acquisition, output products and forecasts, and giving details of publications and postal addresses.
  • The WMO No. 259 Sea Ice Nomenclature provides snapshot of the WMO Sea Ice Nomenclature.

CHAPTER 10 – COMMUNICATION: Full Polar Code text

As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

10.1 Goal

The goal of this chapter is to provide for effective communication for ships and survival craft during normal operation and in emergency situations.


10.2 Functional requirements

In order to achieve the goal set out in paragraph 10.1 above, the following functional requirements are embodied in the regulations of this chapter.

10.2.1 Ship communication

  • 10.2.1.1 Two-way voice and/or data communications ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore shall be available at all points along the intended operating routes.
  • 10.2.1.2 Suitable means of communications shall be provided where escort and convoy operations are expected.
  • 10.2.1.3 Means for two-way on-scene and SAR coordination communications for search and rescue purposes including aeronautical frequencies shall be provided.
  • 10.2.1.4 Appropriate communication equipment to enable telemedical assistance in polar areas shall be provided.

10.2.2 Survival craft and rescue boat communications capabilities

  • 10.2.2.1 For ships intended to operate in low air temperature, all rescue boats and lifeboats, whenever released for evacuation, shall maintain capability for distress alerting, locating and on-scene communications.
  • 10.2.2.2 For ships intended to operate in low air temperature, all other survival craft, whenever released, shall maintain capability for transmitting signals for location and for communication.
  • 10.2.2.3 Mandatory communication equipment for use in survival craft, including liferafts, and rescue boats shall be capable of operation during the maximum expected time of rescue.

10.3 Regulations

10.3.1 Ship communication

  • 10.3.1.1 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.1.1 above, communication equipment on board shall have the capabilities for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, taking into account the limitations of communications systems in high latitudes and the anticipated low temperature.
  • 10.3.1.2 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.1.2 above, ships intended to provide icebreaking escort shall be equipped with a sound signaling system mounted to face astern to indicate escort and emergency manoeuvres to following ships as described in the International Code of Signals.
  • 10.3.1.3 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.1.3 above, two-way on-scene and SAR coordination communication capability in ships shall include:
    • .1 voice and/or data communications with relevant rescue coordination centres; and
    • .2 equipment for voice communications with aircraft on 121.5 and 123.1 MHz.
  • 10.3.1.4 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.1.4 above, the communication equipment shall provide for two-way voice and data communication with a Telemedical Assistance Service (TMAS).

10.3.2 Survival craft and rescue boat communications capabilities

  • 10.3.2.1 For ships intended to operate in low air temperature, in order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.2.1 above, all rescue boats and lifeboats, whenever released for evacuation, shall:
    • .1 for distress alerting, carry one device for transmitting ship to shore alerts;
    • .2 in order to be located, carry one device for transmitting signals for location; and
    • .3 for on-scene communications, carry one device for transmitting and receiving on-scene communications.
  • 10.3.2.2 For ships intended to operate in low air temperature, in order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.2.2 above, all other survival craft shall:
    • .1 in order to be located, carry one device for transmitting signals for location; and
    • .2 for on-scene communications, carry one device for transmitting and receiving on-scene communications.
  • 10.3.2.3 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 10.2.2.3 above, recognizing the limitations arising from battery life, procedures shall be developed and implemented such that mandatory communication equipment for use in survival craft, including liferafts, and rescue boats are available for operation during the maximum expected time of rescue.