Ice Navigation & Seamanship

A tanker master’s experience

Captain Tibor AnicicMaster, Stena Bulk

• Understanding• Knowledge• Difficulties• Hazards• Concerns• Caution

Ice Navigation

By understanding Ice Navigation, we are indeed promoting Safe & Environment

friendly marine transportation

Knowledge of Ice Navigation is vital to ensure :

• Safe navigation • Minimising Sailing time• Avoiding delays• Environmental Safety

Several countries have their own national rules for navigating in ice covered waters that often only apply to national flagged

vessels.

Navigation in ice requires special knowledge and skills and it is expected that the guidelines that were issued by IMO will be mandatory in the near future, which will create standards for training of navigators

in ice.

What are the difficulties ?

• No internationally accepted standards

• Lack of standards and requirements come into conflict with growing oil exports and need of shipping companies to have crews qualified in Ice Navigation.

• There is no internationally harmonised method of skill and knowledge delivery on Ice Navigation.

• Constant improvement for instruments used in Ice Navigation

• Not to forget the limitations of the WMO code

Navigator’s concerns …..

• Icing on the ship’s structure may occur due to the freezing of sea sprays or due to snow, rain and fog.

(Ships Stability / Equipment Failure)

• Quickly changing weather conditions

• Stoppages in ice breaker operations

• Risk of Navigational errors in ice

• Limitations of the Radar equipment in icy areas.

• Some case unable to follow traffic separation zones in ice

• Risk of Navigational errors in icy conditions

• A strong growth in tanker traffic

Navigator’s concerns …..

Other concerns…..

• Ice may force the vessel into shallow waters

• Ice pressure can seriously damage the vessel

• The resistance of the ship is greater in level ice than in open water.

• Handling a damaged ship in ice-covered waters

Example

No access to control or safety equipment might prevent an adequate

response to an emergency.

Combating oil spills in ice and cold waters can be a daunting task

Do existbutNot mentioned in the STCW 95

Training requirements

The high expectations of customers and the safety of crew, vessel, cargo and

environment has become a motivator to increase the knowledge and experience of

ship’s crews.

Entering the Ice ….

• Do not enter Ice if an alternative, although a longer route is

available.

• It is very easy and extremely dangerous to underestimate the

hardness of the ice.

• Be prepared to go “full astern” at any time.

• Propellers and rudders are the most vulnerable parts of the ship –

should go astern in ice with extreme care.

Ice Navigation is a lot of responsibility…....

Thank you for your attention !!!!