Polar Class Ships

Polar class ships and their equipment are constructed in a very special way, keeping in mind the anticipated weather conditions and temperatures at all times. Safety systems and equipment are given special attention to ensure they are fully functional in such conditions. With that said, all equipment must be capable of being operated in these extreme conditions, including examples such as the starting of lifeboat engines. Any operations in cold environments should consider various factors. These include but are not limited to the following:

Additionally, all ships operating in polar waters are required to carry an Ice Navigator, which should be available whenever ice is present whilst the ship is underway.

Polar class ships will have the appropriate structural arrangements to resist local and global ice loads. These structural arrangements vary depending on the Polar class of the specific ship. The hull and all attachments are strengthened in a way to be able to resist the specific scenarios applicable to that ship. 

Double bottoms over the entire breadth and length between the forepeak and afterpeak bulkheads must be available on all polar class ships. A ship that has an ice-breaking bow form and a short forepeak can dispense of the double bottoms under certain conditions. 

Primary and auxiliary means of steering onboard such ships should be of adequate strength and design to function efficiently in polar waters.

All polar class ships should be able to provide limited assistance in the case of an emergency. This is extremely important because assistance in such locations might not be immediately available, hence limited.