P&I Club Guidance

American Bureau of Shipping

IMO Polar Code Advisory (January 2016)
This Advisory Note offers a high level overview of the recently adopted International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (IMO Polar Code). Its objective is to introduce the various parts of the Polar Code to all stakeholders in the marine industry, each of whom will play an important role in continued Arctic and Antarctic maritime safety and environmental protection.

Low Temperature Operations - Guidance for Arctic Shipping
This booklet highlights some of the more recent developments being undertaken by class and, specifically by ABS, to assist industry to capitalize on these emerging opportunities. 

Guide for vessels operating in low temperature environments (Updated Feb 2016)
The objective of this Guide is to provide supplemental requirements that generally are not addressed by ice class Rules. Low temperature environments present numerous challenges related to operation of equipment, systems, structure, vessel maintenance and safety equipment for the vessel’s personnel, as well as personnel performance. Vessels designed and constructed without addressing the effects of low temperatures typically will experience increased structural and equipment failures and nonfunctioning systems. Personnel performance will typically be reduced by the effects of low temperatures.

Winterization Guidelines for LNG/CNG Carriers in Arctic Environments (2006)
Vast reserves of gas and oil are expected to be developed in the offshore areas of the Russian Arctic. Atlantic states in North America and Europe are expected to be the chief consumers of this energy. Difficulties in piping gas and oil across vast stretches of arctic land mass, and the difficulty and time required to build such pipelines, suggest that significant quantities of this gas and oil will be transported by ship from both the Russian Arctic region and the Baltic Sea. Year-round carriage by sea will place extreme challenges on the ships and their crews. The guidelines discusses those ship design and operation challenges for this trade. Download these guidelines HERE

 

Swedish Club

2014

Advice for trading in the polar regions
To trade in the polar regions the vessel and crew are exposed to completely new challenges and risks that do not occur in normal open water sailing. Trading in the Polar Regions can be done safely, but for this to happen the risks need to be assessed correctly. A harmonized ice-regime between the different arctic countries is likely to be the best regime to monitor shipping and enhance safety in the Arctic.