Arctic Council Working Group

Chapter 6: Machinery Installations (Part IA)

Chapter summary:

Chapter 6 identifies requirements for ensuring that the machinery installations used on board ships operating in Polar Regions are capable of functioning at low temperatures and in anticipated environmental conditions. These are set out in the text of Chapter 6 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.

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 and low air temperatures.

Part of ABS’ service to the marine industry is to provide 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). This also included the ABS Guide for Vessels Operating in Low Temperature Environments which offers additional guidance for vessel machinery and systems operating in low temperatures.

ABS recognizes that vessels need not have an ice class or Cold Climate Operation (CCO) notation to operate in Polar Waters, therefore ships would be built to the regular ABS Steel Vessel Rules. These rules are also available free for download and contain the ice class rules as Part 6.

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 6, see page 19.

See also:

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 6, see the LR Regulatory Guide pages 39 to 42.

Lloyd's Register website.

Hyperlink 1: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 6, 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 6 – MACHINERY INSTALLATIONS: Full Polar Code text

As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

6.1 Goal

The goal of this chapter is to ensure that, machinery installations are capable of delivering the required functionality necessary for safe operation of ships.


6.2 Functional requirements

6.2.1 In order to achieve the goal set out in paragraph 6.1 above, the following functional requirements are embodied in the regulations of this chapter.

  • 6.2.1.1 Machinery installations shall provide functionality under the anticipated environmental conditions, taking into account:
    • .1 ice accretion and/or snow accumulation;
    • .2 ice ingestion from seawater;
    • .3 freezing and increased viscosity of liquids;
    • .4 seawater intake temperature; and
    • .5 snow ingestion.
  • 6.2.1.2 In addition, for ships intended to operate in low air temperatures:
    • .1 machinery installations shall provide functionality under the anticipated environmental conditions, also taking into account:
      • .1 cold and dense inlet air; and
      • .2 loss of performance of battery or other stored energy device; and
    • .2 materials used shall be suitable for operation at the ships polar service temperature.
  • 6.2.1.3 In addition, for ships ice strengthened in accordance with chapter 3, machinery installations shall provide functionality under the anticipated environmental conditions, taking into account loads imposed directly by ice interaction.

6.3 Regulations

6.3.1 In order to comply with the functional requirement of paragraph 6.2.1.1 above, taking into account the anticipated environmental conditions, the following apply:

  • .1 machinery installations and associated equipment shall be protected against the effect of ice accretion and/or snow accumulation, ice ingestion from sea water, freezing and increased viscosity of liquids, seawater intake temperature and snow ingestion;
  • .2 working liquids shall be maintained in a viscosity range that ensures operation of the machinery; and
  • .3 seawater supplies for machinery systems shall be designed to prevent ingestion of ice, or otherwise arranged to ensure functionality.

6.3.2 In addition, for ships intended to operate in low air temperatures, the following apply:

  • .1 in order to comply with the functional requirement of paragraph 6.2.1.2 above, exposed machinery and electrical installation and appliances shall function at the polar service temperature;
  • .2 in order to comply with the functional requirement of paragraph 6.2.1.2.1 above, means shall be provided to ensure that combustion air for internal combustion engines driving essential machinery is maintained at a temperature in compliance with the criteria provided by the engine manufacturer; and
  • .3 in order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 6.2.1.2.2 above, materials of exposed machinery and foundations shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account standards acceptable to the Organization, 11 or other standards offering an equivalent level of safety based on the polar service temperature.

6.3.3 In addition, for ships ice strengthened in accordance with chapter 3, in order to comply with the functional requirements of paragraph 6.2.1.3 above, the following apply:

  • .1 scantlings of propeller blades, propulsion line, steering equipment and other appendages of category A ships shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account standards acceptable to the Organization10or other standards offering an equivalent level of safety;
  • .2 scantlings of propeller blades, propulsion line, steering equipment and other appendages of category B ships shall be approved by the Administration, or a recognized organization accepted by it, taking into account standards acceptable to the Organization11 or other standards offering an equivalent level of safety; and
  • .3 scantlings of propeller blades, propulsion line, steering equipment and other appendages 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 with the ice types and concentration encountered in the area of operation.