Older projects

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 Steel Vessel Rules contain requirement for stability that match the International Load Line Convention. When ice accretion is likely to occur, ABS offers an ice accretion analysis as part of the climate hazard assessment service, additional stability assessments are required. Also when ice accretion is likely the vessel needs to have appropriate means of managing the ice buildup. The ABS Guide for Vessels Operating in Low Temperature Environments contains some helpful guidance for ship operators, but ABS through its Advisory Services, offers assistance to ship owners in selecting realistic and practical solutions to deal with ice accretion.

Icelandic Transport Authority

Hyperlink: http://www.icetra.is
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 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 4, see LR Regulatory Guide pages 33 to 36. See also the LR guidance on ice accretion in Part 8, Chapter 1 of the Rules for Ships.

Lloyd's Register website.

CHAPTER 4 - SUBDIVISION AND STABILITY

Hyperlink 1: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 4, see pages 3-4.

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.

CHAPTER 4 – SUBDIVISION AND STABILITY: Full Polar Code text
As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

4.1 Goal
The goal of this chapter is to ensure adequate subdivision and stability in both intact and damaged conditions.

4.2 Functional requirements
In order to achieve the goal set out in paragraph 4.1 above, the following functional requirements are embodied in the regulations of this chapter:

.1 ships shall have sufficient stability in intact conditions when subject to ice accretion; and
.2 ships of category A and B, constructed on or after 1 January 2017, shall have sufficient residual stability to sustain ice-related damages.

4.3 Regulations
4.3.1 Stability in intact conditions

4.3.1.1 In order to comply with the functional requirement of paragraph 4.2.1, for ships operating in areas and during periods where ice accretion is likely to occur, the following icing allowance shall be made in the stability calculations:
- .1 30 kg/m2 on exposed weather decks and gangways;
- .2 7.5 kg/m2 for the projected lateral area of each side of the ship above the water plane; and
- .3 the projected lateral area of discontinuous surfaces of rail, sundry booms, spars (except masts) and rigging of ships having no sails and the projected lateral area of other small objects shall be computed by increasing the total projected area of continuous surfaces by 5% and the static moments of this area by 10%.

4.3.1.2 Ships operating in areas and during periods where ice accretion is likely to occur shall be:
- .1 designed to minimize the accretion of ice; and
- .2 equipped with such means for removing ice as the Administration may require; for example, electrical and pneumatic devices, and/or special tools such as axes or wooden clubs for removing ice from bulwarks, rails and erections.
4.3.1.3 Information on the icing allowance included in the stability calculations shall be given in the PWOM.
4.3.1.4 Ice accretion shall be monitored and appropriate measures taken to ensure that the ice accretion does not exceed the values given in the PWOM.

4.3.2 Stability in damaged conditions

4.3.2.1 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 4.2.2, ships of categories A and B, constructed on or after 1 January 2017, shall be able to withstand flooding resulting from hull penetration due to ice impact. The residual stability following ice damage shall be such that the factor si, as defined in SOLAS regulations II-1/7-2.2 and II-1/7-2.3, is equal to one for all loading conditions used to calculate the attained subdivision index in SOLAS regulation II-1/7. However, for cargo ships that comply with subdivision and damage stability regulations in another instrument developed by the Organization, as provided by SOLAS regulation II-1/4.1, the residual stability criteria of that instrument shall be met for each loading condition.

4.3.2.2 The ice damage extents to be assumed when demonstrating compliance with paragraph 4.3.2.1 shall be such that:
- .1 the longitudinal extent is 4.5% of the upper ice waterline length if centred forward of the maximum breadth on the upper ice waterline, and 1.5% of upper ice waterline length otherwise, and shall be assumed at any longitudinal position along the ship's length;
- .2 the transverse penetration extent is 760 mm, measured normal to the shell over the full extent of the damage; and
- .3 the vertical extent is the lesser of 20% of the upper ice waterline draught or the longitudinal extent, and shall be assumed at any vertical position between the keel and 120% of the upper ice waterline draught.

POLAR CODE CHAPTERS: EXPLANATION AND SUBMISSIONS

Chapter 1: General
Chapter 2: Polar Water Operation Manual
Chapter 3: Ship structure
Chapter 4: Subdivision and stability
Chapter 5: Watertight and weathertight integrity
Chapter 6: Machinery installations
Chapter 7: Fire safety/Protection
Chapter 8: Life saving appliances and arrangements
Chapter 9: Safety of navigation
Chapter 10: Communication
Chapter 11: Voyage planning
Chapter 12: Manning and training

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 3 includes provisions to ensure that the material and scantlings of ships with or without ice strengthening retain their structural integrity under certain environmental loads and conditions. This chapter seeks to provide assurance that a ship’s structure is suitable for the environmental conditions (e.g. ice loads and temperature) by requiring that a ship’s design plan be made to a recognized standard, such as the Polar Class or the Finnish-Swedish (Baltic) classes, and that materials be suitable if the vessel operates at low temperatures. These are set out in the text of Chapter 3below, and in the Part 1B Additional Guidance.

SUBMISSIONS

Hyperlink: Eagle.org

ABS, in service to the marine industry, provides rules and guides free of charge. This includes the ABS Ice Class Rules, which contain the IACS Polar Rules referenced in Chapter 3 of the Polar Code, as well as the Baltic Ice Class Rules that are referenced in POLARIS (MSC.1/Circ. 1519).

ABS has decades of experience with ice class ships and icebreakers. Through the Harsh Environment Technology Center (HETC), ABS continues to push the state of the art with respect to knowledge and capabilities of ships in ice, low air temperatures and marine systems to predict or manage these hazards.

ABS recognizes that vessels need not have an ice class to operate in Polar Waters, therefore ships would be built to the overarching ABS Steel Vessel Rules. These rules are also available free for download and contain the ice class rules as Part 6.

Icelandic Transport Authority

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 3, see the LR Regulatory Guide pages 31 to 32.

Lloyd's Register website.

CHAPTER 3 - SHIP STRUCTURE: Full Polar Code text

Hyperlink 1: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 3, see pages 3-4 and page 13.

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.

CHAPTER 3 – SHIP STRUCTURE: Full Polar Code text
As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

3.1 Goal
The goal of this chapter is to provide that the material and scantlings of the structure retain their structural integrity based on global and local response due to environmental loads and conditions.

3.2 Functional requirements
In order to achieve the goal set out in paragraph 3.1 above, the following functional requirements are embodied in the regulations of this chapter:

.1 for ships intended to operate in low air temperature, materials used shall be suitable for operation at the ships polar service temperature; and
.2 in ice strengthened ships, the structure of the ship shall be designed to resist both global and local structural loads anticipated under the foreseen ice conditions.

3.3 Regulations

3.3.1 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 3.2.1 above, materials of exposed structures in ships shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account standards acceptable to the Organization or other standards offering an equivalent level of safety based on the polar service temperature.
3.3.2 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 3.2.2 above, the following apply:
- .1 scantlings of category A ships shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account standards acceptable to the Organization or other standards offering an equivalent level of safety;
- .2 scantlings of category B ships shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account standards acceptable to the Organization or other standards offering an equivalent level of safety;
- .3 scantlings of ice strengthened category C ships shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account acceptable standards adequate for the ice types and concentrations encountered in the area of operation; and
- .4 a category C ship need not be ice strengthened if, in the opinion of the Administration, the ship's structure is adequate for its intended operation.

POLAR CODE CHAPTERS: EXPLANATION AND SUBMISSIONS

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 1 provides the overall structure and framework for Part I of the Polar Code, as well as additional definitions not noted in the introduction, the requirements for the issuance of Polar Ship Certificates and surveys, and the general criteria for determining ship performance standards and operational assessments. These are set out in the text of Chapter 1 below, and in the Part 1B Additional Guidance.

SUBMISSIONS

Arctic Institute of North America

Hyperlink: Eagle.org

ABS was heavily involved with and actively participated in the development of the Polar Code. Being so close to the code’s development enabled ABS to create and publish one of the first guidelines for industry a year before the Code came into force: IMO Polar Code Advisory.

To disseminate its knowledge, ABS offers training to ship owners/operators on the IMO Polar Code. This training provides owners an understanding of the requirements of the Code, how to manage its goal based standards structure, and how to effectively progress through the process up to and including issuance of the Polar Ship Certificate.

A key aspect of the Polar Code is contained in Chapter 1 Paragraph 1.5 – Operational Assessment, one of the cornerstones to the Polar Code’s application. An ABS Facilitated Operational Assessment, is a service offered by ABS where a formal HAZID is performed, climatic conditions and the ship’s capabilities and the Code’s requirements are closely examined to determine the required risk control measures. The outcomes of this assessment form the foundation to the ship specific Polar Waters Operational Manual.

ABS Advisory Services has prepared a full Polar Code support offering for industry. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Arctic Economic Council

Hyperlink: https://www.genice.ca/home

AINA is a partner in a 4 year project - GENICE - which is to address the need to develop preparedness and response strategies for fuel spills in Arctic waters. The project brings together a broadly interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral team to combine cutting-edge genomics, analytical chemistry, and sea-ice geophysics with economic, policy and end-user expertise to focus on the role of and potential for bioremediation of fuel spills in the Arctic marine environment. The overarching objectives of the project are to generate baseline microbial genomics data for the Hudson Bay Corridor, conduct a series of bioremediation viability case studies, develop recommendations on technology-based emergency spill response strategies, and define best practices for knowledge sharing, capacity building for spill-response, and policy development; each of these objectives is informed by genomics.

This work is relevant to the Polar Code Part IIA: Pollution Prevention Measures Chapter 1. Prevention of Pollution by Oil in particular and outcomes could potentially be used to support decision making with respect to response to incidents and counter-pollution activities such as oil pollution combating strategies, spill response, pollution prevention equipment for ships, and shipping route designation.

International Hydrographic Commission (IHO)

The IHO, as an Observer organization at the IMO and its chief advisor on nautical charting issues, has contributed to the safety considerations of the Polar Code, related specifically to the generally unsatisfactory state of the underlying hydrographic surveys from which existing nautical charts in the polar regions are derived.

The IHO input has been based on the work of the two hydrographic Commissions that cover the polar regions - the Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission (ARHC) and the IHO Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (HCA). Each Commission provides a framework for cooperation and coordination between the various countries that produce nautical charts of polar waters.

1) IHO Hydrographic Dictionary (IHO Publication S-32)

2) Status of Hydrographic Surveying and Charting Worldwide (IHO Publication C-55) (5 November 2020) (provides base data for governments and supporting international organizations as they consider the best means by which to implement responsibilities set out in Chapter V, Regulation 9, of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention)

3) Joint IHO/IMO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information (MSI) (IHO Publication No. 53) (January 2016)

4) Facts About Electronic Charts and Carriage Requirements (IHO Publication S-66) (January 2018)

5) The Need for National Hydrographic Services (IHO Publication M-2) (June 2018)

6) Caution Required When Using Nautical Charts of Arctic Waters (ARHC Notice) (28 June 2017)

7) International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) (Version 4.0, July 2020) (The goal of the IBCAO initiative is to develop a digital database that contains all available bathymetric data north of 64° North, for use by mapmakers, researchers, institutions, and others whose work requires a detailed and accurate knowledge of the depth and the shape of the Arctic seabed.)

8) Mariners' Guide to Accuracy of Depth Information in Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) (IHO S-67) (October 2020)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The following explanatory graphics and videos are replicated from the IMO website. Further important information is detailed on the Polar Code section of IMO's website, including information on the second phase of the Polar Code.

IMO in the polar environment: the Polar Code explained:

IMO in the polar environment: Search and Rescue

Guidence on Surveys:

Note IMO Circular 16 December 2016 (MSC.1/Circ.1562)

Guidance on methodologies for assessing operational capabilities and limitations in ice

Note IMO Circular 6 June 2016 (MSC.1/Circ.1519)

Interim guidelines on life-saving appliances and arrangements for ships operating in polar waters.

Note IMO Circular 26 June 2019 (MSC.1/Circ.1614)

Training of Seafarers
Resolution MSC.416(97), adopted on 25 November 2016, containing amendments to the STCW Convention, 1978 , including amended regulation I/1.1 adding definitions of “Polar code” and “Polar waters”, amended regulation I/11 requiring continued seagoing service for masters and officers for the continued professional competence for ships operating in polar waters, amendments to chapter V of the STCW Convention (Regulation V/4 on “Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualifications of masters and deck officers on ships operating in polar waters”).

This led to the development of IMO model course on Basic and Advanced Training for ships operating in polar waters (see image).

Further information on Polar Code (second phase):

Resolution A.1137(31), adopted on 16 January 2020, Interim safety measures for ships not certified under the SOLAS Convention operating in polar waters
Guidance for navigation and communication equipment intended for use on ships operating in polar waters (MSC.1/Circ.1612, June 2019). See Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), 101 session, 5-14 June 2019.

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 Lloyd's Register guidance on all aspects of the Polar Code (chapter by chapter). For Chapter 1, see the LR Regulatory Guide pages 21 to 26.

Lloyd's Register website.

World Meterological Organization (WMO)

Hyperlink 1: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 1, see pages 1-2.

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 1: https://public.wmo.int
WMO provides information for integrating weather, climate and hydrological data, environmental information and weather-climate predictive tools in the Arctic region, for example through its World Weather Watch (WWW), the Marine Meteorological and Oceanographic Services, the Global Cryosphere Watch and other components of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) as well as its World Climate and Weather Research Programmes (WCRP and WWRP). This is the general link to the WMO's public website.

Hyperlink 2: https://globalcryospherewatch.org/
The World Meteorological Organization's Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) is an international mechanism for supporting all key cryospheric in-situ and remote sensing observations. To meet the needs of WMO Members and partners in delivering services to users, the media, public, decision and policy makers, GCW provides authoritative, clear, and useable data, information, and analyses on the past, current and future state of the cryosphere.

Hyperlink 3: https://www.ocean-ops.org/
WMO has various in situ observation programmes in polar waters.

The joint WMO-IOC Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) established two action groups for the polar regions, the International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP, 1991) and International Buoy Programme for Antarctic Buoys (IPAB, 1994) .
IABP focuses on Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas, excepting Exclusive Economic Zones, with expected resolution of 250km×25okm. It aims to provide meteorological and oceanographic data for real-time operational requirements and research purposes including support to the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the World Weather Watch (WWW) Programme. As of June 2020, there were 223 buoys operational, thanks to high number of deployments in MOSAiC station. More details of IABP data, see http://iabp.apl.uw.edu/

IPAB (jointly WCRP/SCAR) investigates south of 55°S and that region of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic marginal seas within the maximum seasonal sea-ice extent, in 500km×500km grids. It is designed to provide meteorological and oceanographic data for real-time operational requirements and research purposes. In June 2020, there were 65 operational buoys, leaving most of Southern Ocean still sparsely sampled. More details of IPAB, see http://www.ipab.aq/.

With Minamata Convention taking effect in 2020, the DBCP is taking necessary measures to assist Members to migrate to mercury-free instruments, including environmental stewardship discussion at recent 36th DBCP session, http://goosocean.org/DBCP-36

Under the Ship Observations Team (SOT), mostly fast-moving Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) regularly gather meteorological data (including sea ice) in the Arctic with manned or automated weather stations wherever the equipped ships navigate;

The Ship of Opportunity Programme (SOOP) deploys XBTs on mostly quarterly repeated lines which lead at least partly into the Arctic region and collect sea temperature profiles from the surface to 1000m.

Radiosondes (Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme-ASAP) for upper air soundings are only launched in this area as part of research ship activities. The latter operate inter alia in the Arctic region as part of the GO-SHIP repeat hydrography programme, with data collection from the surface to the seafloor of highest quality and full set of parameters. Some GO-SHIP lines are repeated every or at least every second year, but most of them (including the transpolar line on the map below) are sampled only once per decade. Neither in SOT nor GO-SHIP exists a particular working group or performance indicator with focus on polar matters.

Hyperlink 4: https://public.wmo.int/en/programmes/world-weather-research-programme
WMO's World Weather Research Programme advances society's ability to cope with high impact weather through research focused on improving the accuracy, lead time and utilization of weather prediction. It has several activities focused on the Arctic region, including the Year of Polar Prediction.

Hyperlink 5: http://www.polarprediction.net
WMO is coordinating a Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP), starting in 2017, which will include a host of observing, modelling and educational activities. YOPP has the overarching goal to significantly improve our environmental prediction capabilities for the polar regions and beyond, on time scales from hours to seasons. Because of various teleconnections the poles influence weather and climate conditions in lower latitudes where hundreds of millions of people live. YOPP is intended to evaluate the improvement of weather and climate prediction worldwide with improved polar observational network. The connection to longer time scales is made through the World Climate Research Programme’s Polar Climate Predictability Initiative. The core period of YOPP entails intensive observation and modelling campaigns in both the Arctic and the Antarctic, scheduled from mid-2017 to mid-2019.

Hyperlink 6: http://wcrp-climate.org/
For longer timescales the World Climate Research Programme (a cosponsored organization of WMO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Council for Science) provides the science underpinning changes in the climate worldwide, including the Arctic.

Hyperlink 7: http://www.climate-cryosphere.org/wcrp/pcpi
The Polar Climate Predictability Initiative (PCPI) is an initiative of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), whose goal is to improve the understanding of the predictability of climate and the effect of human activities on climate. The PCPI has a focus on polar regions and their role in the global climate system and aims to improve predictability of the climate system on all time scales by improving our understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms and their representation in climate models.

WMO website

CHAPTER 1 – GENERAL: Full Polar Code text
As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL: Full Polar Code text

1.1 Structure of this part
Each chapter in this part consists of the overall goal of the chapter, functional requirements to fulfil the goal, and regulations. A ship shall be considered to meet a functional requirement set out in this part when either:

.1 the ship's design and arrangements comply with all the regulations associated with that functional requirement; or
.2 part(s) or all of the ship's relevant design and arrangements have been reviewed and approved in accordance with regulation 4 of SOLAS chapter XIV, and any remaining parts of the ship comply with the relevant regulations.

1.2 Definitions
In addition to the definitions included in the relevant SOLAS chapters and the introduction of this Code, the following definitions are applicable to this part.

1.2.1 Bergy waters mean an area of freely navigable water in which ice of land origin is present in concentrations less than 1/10. There may be sea ice present, although the total concentration of all ice shall not exceed 1/10.
1.2.2 Escort means any ship with superior ice capability in transit with another ship.
1.2.3 Escorted operation means any operation in which a ship's movement is facilitated through the intervention of an escort.
1.2.4 Habitable environment means a ventilated environment that will protect against hypothermia.
1.2.5 Icebreaker means any ship whose operational profile may include escort or ice management functions, whose powering and dimensions allow it to undertake aggressive operations in ice-covered waters.
1.2.6 Ice Class means the notation assigned to the ship by the Administration or by an organization recognized by the Administration showing that the ship has been designed for navigation in sea-ice conditions.
1.2.7 Maximum expected time of rescue means the time adopted for the design of equipment and system that provide survival support. It shall never be less than 5 days
1.2.8 Machinery Installations means equipment and machinery and its associated piping and cabling, which is necessary for the safe operation of the ship.
1.2.9 Mean Daily Low Temperature (MDLT) means the mean value of the daily low temperature for each day of the year over a minimum 10 year period. A data set acceptable to the Administration may be used if 10 years of data is not available4 .
1.2.10 Polar Class (PC) means the ice class assigned to the ship by the Administration or by an organization recognized by the Administration based upon IACS Unified Requirements.
1.2.11 Polar Service Temperature (PST) means a temperature specified for a ship which is intended to operate in low air temperature, which shall be set at least 100C below the lowest MDLT for the intended area and season of operation in polar waters.
1.2.12 Ship intended to operate in low air temperature means a ship which is intended to undertake voyages to or through areas where the lowest Mean Daily Low Temperature (MDLT) is below -100C.
1.2.13 Tankers mean oil tankers as defined in SOLAS regulation II-1/2.22, chemical tankers as defined in SOLAS regulation II-1/3.19 and gas carriers as defined in SOLAS regulation VII/11.2.
1.2.14 Upper ice waterline means the waterline defined by the maximum draughts forward and aft for operation in ice.

1.3 Certificate and survey

1.3.1 Every ship to which this Code applies shall have on board a valid Polar Ship Certificate.
1.3.2 Except as provided for in paragraph
1.3.3, the Polar Ship Certificate shall be issued after an initial or renewal survey to a ship which complies with the relevant requirements of this Code.
1.3.3 For category C cargo ships, if the result of the assessment in paragraph 1.5 is that no additional equipment or structural modification is required to comply with the Polar Code, the Polar Ship Certificate may be issued based upon documented verification that the ship complies with all relevant requirements of the Polar Code. In this case, for continued validity of the certificate, an onboard survey should be undertaken at the next scheduled survey.
1.3.4 The certificate referred to in this regulation shall be issued either by the Administration or by any person or organization recognized by it in accordance with SOLAS regulation XI-1/1. In every case, that Administration assumes full responsibility for the certificate.
1.3.5 The Polar Ship Certificate shall be drawn up in the form corresponding to the model given in appendix 1 to this Code. If the language used is neither English, nor French nor Spanish, the text shall include a translation into one of these languages.
1.3.6 Polar Ship Certificate validity, survey dates and endorsements shall be harmonized with the relevant SOLAS certificates in accordance with the provisions of regulation I/14 of the SOLAS Convention. The certificate shall include a supplement recording equipment required by the Code.
1.3.7 Where applicable, the certificate shall reference a methodology to assess operational capabilities and limitations in ice to the satisfaction of the Administration, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.

1.4 Performance standards

1.4.1 Unless expressly provided otherwise, ship systems and equipment addressed in this Code shall satisfy at least the same performance standards referred to in SOLAS.
1.4 2 For ships operating in low air temperature, a polar service temperature (PST) shall be specified and shall be at least 100C below the lowest MDLT for the intended area and season of operation in polar waters. Systems and equipment required by this Code shall be fully functional at the polar service temperature.
1.4.3 For ships operating in low air temperature, survival systems and equipment shall be fully operational at the polar service temperature during the maximum expected rescue time.

1.5 Operational assessment
In order to establish procedures or operational limitations, an assessment of the ship and its equipment shall be carried out, taking into consideration the following:

.1 the anticipated range of operating and environmental conditions, such as:
- .1 operation in low air temperature;
- .2 operation in ice;
- .3 operation in high latitude; and
- .4 potential for abandonment onto ice or land;
.2 hazards, as listed in section 3 of the Introduction, as applicable; and
.3 additional hazards, if identified.

POLAR CODE CHAPTERS: EXPLANATION AND SUBMISSIONS

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 2 describes the content to be included in the Polar Water Operational Manual (PWOM), a mandatory ship-specific document designed to support decision making through the identification of procedures for operations under routine and emergency conditions. The PWOM must contain references to methodologies used to determine capabilities and limitations of a vessel in ice. The Regulations require that vessels develop and carry a PWOM on board, and require that a variety of risk-based procedures are taken into consideration. These are set out in the text of Chapter 2 below, and in the Part 1B Additional Guidance.

SUBMISSIONS

Hyperlink: Eagle.org

As part of the Polar Code implementation process, ABS requires that ship owners submit their PWOM to ABS for review (not approval). ABS reviews the manual to ensure that all hazards identified in the operational assessment are addressed. Some PWOMs have utilized Appendix 10 of the ABS Guide for Vessels Operating in Low Temperature Environments to estimate the ship’s operating temperatures. ABS recommends a closer and ship specific examination of the applicable hazards and ABS offers climatic hazard analysis services which includes air temperature and sea ice analysis.

Appendix II of the Polar Code contains an example Table of Contents for a PWOM, it is a starting point and leaves a significant content to be contemplated and completed by the ship owner. ABS’ Harsh Environment Technology Center is developing a template PWOM for ABS classed vessels seeking a Polar Ship Certificate.

For more information on some of the services ABS provides see ABS Polar Code Support or please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

Hyperlink: Guidelines for the Development of a Polar Water Operational Manual

The International Chamber for Shipping (ICS) and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) jointly published this document in 2019. ICS and OCIMF members consider that how a ship is operated in Polar waters, and especially in ice, is a critical aspect for safe operations. The quality of the PWOM will have an impact on achieving safe operations. This document suplements the Polar Code and its Appendix II, which provides a model for a PWOM. The document states that while Appendix II is a useful starting point, ICS and OCIMF members have found that additional information is needed to develop a quality PWOM.

International Ice Charting Working Group

Hyperlink 1: 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.

Hyperlink 2: http://nsidc.org/noaa/iicwg/
For Arctic shipping, the website of the International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG) most importantly provides contact information for all of the national ice services in the world, including 24/7 emergency access to ice information. Additionally, the site provides information about IICWG activities, summaries and presentations from annual IICWG meetings, documents on standards, and links to other ice information sites.

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 Lloyd's Register guidance on all aspects of the Polar Code (chapter by chapter). For Chapter 2, see LR Regulatory Guide pages 27 to 30 and Appendix 2 of the Code.

Lloyd's Register website.

World Meterological Organization

Hyperlink 1: Guidelines for the Development of a Polar Water Operational Manual

Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the International Chamber for Shipping (ICS) and the jointly published this document in 2019. ICS and OCIMF members consider that how a ship is operated in Polar waters, and especially in ice, is a critical aspect for safe operations. The quality of the PWOM will have an impact on achieving safe operations. This document suplements the Polar Code and its Appendix II, which provides a model for a PWOM. The document states that while Appendix II is a useful starting point, ICS and OCIMF members have found that additional information is needed to develop a quality PWOM.

Hyperlink 2: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 2, see page 1.

Hyperlink 3: 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 1: http://weather.gmdss.org
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) website displays the marine forecast and warning products that are provided to mariners via SafetyNet and NAVTEX, as part of the Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service (WWMIWS), within the framework of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The worlds' oceans have been divided into 21 areas, called METAREA's, for the provision of marine products to shipping. The products displayed are issued by the National Meteorological Services (NMS) appointed as WWMIWS Issuing Services. METAREA Coordinators are assigned to coordinate provision of the marine services for each area. Canada, Norway, Russian Federation have responsibilities in the respective METAREAs in the Arctic polar waters.

Hyperlink 2: 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.

WMO website

The Environment Agency of Iceland

Hyperlink: https://www.ust.is/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.

CHAPTER 2 – POLAR WATER OPERATIONAL MANUAL: Full Polar Code text
As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

CHAPTER 2 - POLAR WATER OPERATIONAL MANUAL: Full Polar Code text

2.1 Goal
The goal of this chapter is to provide the owner, operator, master and crew with sufficient information regarding the ship's operational capabilities and limitations in order to support their decision-making process.

2.2 Functional requirements

2.2.1 In order to achieve the goal set out in paragraph 2.1 above, the following functional requirements are embodied in the regulations of this chapter.
2.2.2 The Manual shall include information on the ship-specific capabilities and limitations in relation to the assessment required under paragraph 1.5.
2.2.3 The Manual shall include or refer to specific procedures to be followed in normal operations and in order to avoid encountering conditions that exceed the ship's capabilities.
2.2.4 The Manual shall include or refer to specific procedures to be followed in the event of incidents in polar waters.
2.2.5 The Manual shall include or refer to specific procedures to be followed in the event that conditions are encountered which exceed the ship's specific capabilities and limitations in paragraph 2.2.2. 2.2.6 The Manual shall include or refer to procedures to be followed when using icebreaker assistance, as applicable.

2.3 Regulations

2.3.1 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraphs 2.2.1 to 2.2.6, the Manual shall be carried on board.
2.3.2 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 2.2.2, the Manual shall contain, where applicable, the methodology used to determine capabilities and limitations in ice.
2.3.3 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 2.2.3, the Manual shall include risk-based procedures for the following:
- .1 voyage planning to avoid ice and/or temperatures that exceed the ship's design capabilities or limitations;
- .2 arrangements for receiving forecasts of the environmental conditions;
- .3 means of addressing any limitations of the hydrographic, meteorological and navigational information available;
- .4 operation of equipment required under other chapters of this Code; and
- .5 implementation of special measures to maintain equipment and system functionality under low temperatures, topside icing and the presence of sea ice, as applicable.
2.3.4 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 2.2.4, the Manual shall include risk-based procedures to be followed for:
.1 contacting emergency response providers for salvage, search and rescue (SAR), spill response, etc., as applicable; and
.2 in the case of ships ice strengthened in accordance with chapter 3, procedures for maintaining life support and ship integrity in the event of prolonged entrapment by ice.
2.3.5 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 2.2.5, the Manual shall include risk-based procedures to be followed for measures to be taken in the event of encountering ice and/or temperatures which exceed the ship's design capabilities or limitations.
2.3.6 In order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 2.2.6, the Manual shall include risk-based procedures for monitoring and maintaining safety during operations in ice, as applicable, including any requirements for escort operations or icebreaker assistance. Different operational limitations may apply depending on whether the ship is operating independently or with icebreaker escort. Where appropriate, the PWOM should specify both options.

POLAR CODE CHAPTERS: EXPLANATION AND SUBMISSIONS