In the winter of 2002/2003, temperatures fell to a ten year low in the Baltic Sea. These icy conditions, combined with increased tanker traffic, have raised concerns about environmental safety. Oil tankers operating in cold climates, in particular those serving Primosk terminal, create risk management challenges that are far more complex than those faced by tankers operating in warmer climates.
Coast lines in both Arctic and Baltic areas are especially vulnerable to oil pollution. Several regulatory administrations, Finland and Russia included, have focused on enforcing Ice Class rules to ensure that ships operating along their coast lines have sufficient capability to operate in ice. DNV has been co-operating with other societies and flag administrations like Finland, Canada and Russia, to ensure that the code will be sufficiently stringent.
"Managing cold-climate risks is increasingly important," says DNV marketing director Wilhelm Magelssen, "both for tankers and for commercial vessels." He points out the competence necessary to operate safely in cold climates is not just linked to ship interaction between ice and the hull/propeller/rudders, where there is an obvious need to comply with special technical standards. The effects of extremely low temperatures can cause:
- air and water pipes freezing
- navigational and emergency equipment failing
- crew performance deteriorating and ice formation on the deck, superstructure and cargo, threatening both sound operational performance of deck equipment and vessel stability.
Studies performed by the Finnish regulatory authorities, and DNV's experience of operations in Arctic areas, has identified a number of challenges to vessels operating in cold climate. They include:
- Increased traffic
- The threat of drift ice
- Entrapment in ice due to engine failure
- Ship manoeuvring capability
- Navigational and operational issues
- Oil spills, and the greater likelihood of leakage in icy conditions
- Crew training, and managing rescue operations
DNV has a large menu of class notations corresponding to different functional needs when operating in cold climate or ice infested waters. As the major class society of tankers with ice strengthening and with almost 1,800 DNV classed vessels of different types prepared for operation in cold climate, it has over many years gained valuable experience for developing rules covering different operational needs:
- Rules for soft ice
- Baltic rules, assuming support from ice breakers
- Arctic rules for more independent operation
- Ice breaker rules for function in heavy ice conditions
- Rules for materials taking into account the extreme low temperature
- Deicing rules for pro-active preparedness to ensure operational safety
The additional risk introduced when operating in cold climate requires a systematic approach focusing on planning and preparations for all operators. Ongoing development is also focusing on additional risks like how to ensure sufficient fire fighting capability under extreme temperatures, and how to cope with new propulsion alternatives in a robust, safe and reliable manner.
Wilhelm Magelssen also warns that regulations alone are not enough. "We must make ship owners and crew realise the challenges of operating in cold climates and icy conditions. DNV is prepared to support and be a discussion partner for owners, yards and authorities in the further development of shipping activities in cold climates. Such communication becomes increasingly important when one third of the DNV classed tankers currently on order are specified with ice strengthening, and this share seems to be increasing."
For more information contact:
Wilhelm.Magelssen@dnv.com