Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) took part in the 10th Annual Arctic Shipping Forum in Helsinki, Finland, April 8-10, 2014.
Special requirements for Arctic class ships have become one of the most discussed issues within the international maritime community. The potential threats the navigation is facing are connected to the harsh climate and lack of refuge ports in the Arctic, thus increasing the risks of accidents as compared to the navigation in clear water. The remoteness of the Arctic regions makes it more difficult and costly to carry out rescue operations and environmental pollution prevention activities.
Valuable marine bioresources and slow self-purification of northern seas stipulate the implementation of conscious approach to the pollution prevention measures.
“Sufficient hull strength and ship’s propulsion as well as operability of ship’s equipment at low temperatures are the prerequisites of successful navigation in harsh climate conditions. Therefore, RS performs each annual survey of RS-classed Arctic ships and icebreakers with docking, while other ships are subject to survey with docking once every five years. What is more, RS systematically updates the relevant requirements of the Rules upon the R&D, technical innovations and ship operational experience. Over 300 RS-classed ships, including 30 icebreakers are capable to operate in the Arctic”, - Maxim Boyko, head of the RS Research department, stated during his speech.
At present, RS performs Approval in Principle for the methodology to develop extreme global loads, to direct strength and fatigue of azimuth thrusters and pod propulsion units of the world’s leading manufacturers. Implementation of the methodologies will enable to increase the safety of azimuth thrusters operation in ice conditions.
The RS competence on Arctic LNG carriers has substantially expanded: RS carried out the Approval in Principle for GTT methodology to calculate global iceberg loads and Approval in Principle for GTT membrane cargo carriage systems for Arc7 ship operation in the Russian Arctic and along the Northern Sea Route.
Approval in Principle has been granted for Arc7 gas carrier design with bulbous bow, which will enable to save fuel during clear water navigation. Under the approval procedure RS in cooperation with the leading scientific centers carried out the bow ice loads calculation and calculation of the bulb strength under the ice loads.
Besides the appropriate structural design and suitable equipment of ships four conditions of the safe operation in polar waters should be met: the ship, the crew, the shipping company and the maritime administration must be prepared to ice or other conditions in excess of normal navigation conditions for the ship.
As Vladimir Shurpyak, senior principal surveyor of the RS machinery department noted, it can be currently said that basically all the listed requirements set out in the concept of four conditions to a certain extent are reflected in the draft Polar Code.
Among the requirements Vladimir Shurpyak highlighted compliance of the ice class limitation with the ship’s navigation area, technical preparedness of the ship for the polar voyage (ship's stores, supplies, fuel, etc.) The crew should have a special additional training to work in ice conditions and the ship's officer must have sufficient experience of navigation in ice conditions.
Additionally, shipping company's Safety Management System should be prepared for the possibility of operating the ships in polar waters. The company should carry out the planning of the polar voyage and inform the maritime administration of polar coastal states and rescue services.
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