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    Ships & Ice: Notes On Ice Navigation

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    bhabhasunil
    The document provides guidance on navigating ships through ice-covered waters, highlighting key dangers and difficulties of ice navigation. It notes that ice restricts ship movement, affects navigation equipment and charts, and can accumulate dangerously on ships. The document advises having proper equipment, clothing, and emergency supplies before entering ice regions and preparing ships by adjusting ballast and trimming. It emphasizes proceeding cautiously in ice, avoiding becoming beset, and using ice movement to advantage. Masters are advised to report ice conditions and reduce speed or find shelter if facing severe ice accumulation.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Ships & Ice: Notes On Ice Navigation

    Uploaded by

    bhabhasunil
    163 views14 pages
    The document provides guidance on navigating ships through ice-covered waters, highlighting key dangers and difficulties of ice navigation. It notes that ice restricts ship movement, affects navigation equipment and charts, and can accumulate dangerously on ships. The document advises having proper equipment, clothing, and emergency supplies before entering ice regions and preparing ships by adjusting ballast and trimming. It emphasizes proceeding cautiously in ice, avoiding becoming beset, and using ice movement to advantage. Masters are advised to report ice conditions and reduce speed or find shelter if facing severe ice accumulation.

    Original Description:

    Ice Navigation

    Original Title

    ICE_BHA

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    The document provides guidance on navigating ships through ice-covered waters, highlighting key dangers and difficulties of ice navigation. It notes that ice restricts ship movement, affects navigation equipment and charts, and can accumulate dangerously on ships. The document advises having proper equipment, clothing, and emergency supplies before entering ice regions and preparing ships by adjusting ballast and trimming. It emphasizes proceeding cautiously in ice, avoiding becoming beset, and using ice movement to advantage. Masters are advised to report ice conditions and reduce speed or find shelter if facing severe ice accumulation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    163 views14 pages

    Ships & Ice: Notes On Ice Navigation

    Uploaded by

    bhabhasunil
    The document provides guidance on navigating ships through ice-covered waters, highlighting key dangers and difficulties of ice navigation. It notes that ice restricts ship movement, affects navigation equipment and charts, and can accumulate dangerously on ships. The document advises having proper equipment, clothing, and emergency supplies before entering ice regions and preparing ships by adjusting ballast and trimming. It emphasizes proceeding cautiously in ice, avoiding becoming beset, and using ice movement to advantage. Masters are advised to report ice conditions and reduce speed or find shelter if facing severe ice accumulation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 14

    SHIPS & ICE

    Notes on Ice navigation


    Compiled by: Capt Sunil Bhabha
    Source: Various & from Internet
    Last Reviewed: 1st Feb 2015

    On the cold but clear night of April 14th 1912 on board the brand new steamer Titanic,
    the crow’s nest bell suddenly rings three times, followed by the ringing of the nest
    telephone on the bridge. The telephone is answered by the Duty Officer, who hears the
    Lookout’s urgent warning, “Iceberg, right ahead!”
    About ninety minutes later the ship had sunk and the tragedy started to dawn as
    1,500 people drowned or froze to their deaths. What was believed to have been built
    by mankind to resist even the damage of striking an iceberg had now perished? Ice
    had proved tougher than expected.

     The above incident is, of course, one of a kind in many aspects, but it shows that
    the forces of nature, in this case ice, never can nor should be underestimated.
     Masters and ship owners on many occasions seem to be surprised by the force,
    strength and toughness that ice constitutes and the severe damage it might inflict
    on a vessel
    Capt. Sunil Bhabha
    Page 1
     The main reasons, however, are lack of knowledge and experience of ice, no doubt
    coupled with commercial reasons and considerations

    DIFFICULTIES & DANGERS

     Navigation through ice-infested waters is always a difficult and delicate task. Ice
    restricts & sometimes controls the movement of the ship by forcing frequent
    changes in course & speed.
     Ice affects piloting by altering the appearance & features of landmarks.
     It hinders the establishment & maintenance of aids to navigation.
     It affects the use of electronic equipment by affecting the propagation of radio
    waves.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


     It changes the surface features & affects the radar returns.
     Affects celestial navigation by altering the refraction and obscuring the horizon &
    celestial bodies either directly or by its influence on weather (poor visibility / fog
    etc).

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


    USEFUL PUBLICATIONS & SOURCE OF INFORMATION in planning a passage through
    polar Ice covered waters

     IMO Guidelines for ships operating in Arctic & Antarctic ice covered waters
     Manual of Ice seamanship (US Defense Mapping agency)
     Ice seamanship & handling ships in Ice (NI)
     Navigating in Ice, Training DVD (Videotel)
    and
     Information is promulgated by national authorities in whose waters ice is prevalent.
    Details are given in ALRS Vol 3 & ASD. Details of various websites, providing
    information about ice, are also given in NP 100.

    CONDUCT OF NAVIGATION

     Do not enter Ice if a longer but ice free route is available.


     Using all ice info & weather forecast choose a track where least Ice pressure is
    expected.
     In high latitudes directions change fast with movement of observer. Near the poles
    meridians converge rendering the meridians and parallels of lat impracticable for
    use.
     All Time zones meet at the poles & local time has little significance. The sun rises &
    sets once a year slowly spiraling for three months to 23.5 degrees & then decreasing
    in altitude until it sets again three months later.
    Capt. Sunil Bhabha
     Fog & low cloud ceilings are prevalent. White outs occur when daylight is diffused by
    multiple reflections between snow surface & low cloud cover diminishing horizon &
    surface features.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


     CHARTS – Polar charts are used for navigation which are based upon aerial
    photography & satellite imagery. Their accuracy is unlikely to be of the same
    standard as navigational charts for lower latitudes.
     Visual & radar bearings are to be treated as great circles & half convergency error
    applied if using them on Mercator charts.
     COMPASSES – The Gyro loses all horizontal directive force as the poles are
    approached & becomes unusable beyond 85 lat. Magnetic compass is also unreliable
    because of large diurnal variation & motion of the magnetic poles.
     ECHO SOUNDER should be run continuously though depths may change too
    abruptly. The trace may be lost due to ice under the hull or noises caused by ice. If
    required the vessel should be slowed to obtain sounding.
     CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS may not be possible due to fog, clouds, white out & six
    monthly days & nights however these should be taken whenever possible. The
    changed atmosphere also affects refraction & dip. Horizon may be obscured by ice
    hence a bubble sextant or a sextant used with artificial horizon set up on the ice will
    give better results. Back angles may be used if possible.
     RADAR is the most valuable equipment for safe navigation.
     GPS & GLONASS also give satisfactory positions.

    MATERIAL PREPARATIONS

     Operations in Ice necessarily require considerable advanced planning & much more
    precautionary measures than a typical ocean voyage.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


     First & foremost the equipment necessary to meet the basic needs of the crew
    should be available on board. Like polar clothing & footwear, protective sunglasses,
    food, vitamins, medical supplies, fuel, storage batteries, anti freeze & emergency
    survival kits containing sleeping bags, rations, firearms, ammunition, fishing gear
    etc.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


     Draught trim & stability permitting empty or slack off all wing & DB tanks and slack
    all FW tanks.
     However ensure that draught trim & stability are in accordance with ice
    classification.
     Ensure all the heating and air bubble tank systems (anti-freeze) are in working
    order.
     Check bunker status, especially wrt quantities of DO/MGO taking into account the
    increased maneuvering & add cold temperature additives as required.
     Ensure that the rudder & rudder angle indicator are in good order.
     Radars are fully operational & scanner heating arrangements working.
     Searchlights are operational & spare lamps are available.
     Main & spare NUC lights are operational.
     Bridge window heating & wiper / CVS / window wash heating systems are
    operational.
     Protect mooring equipment & ropes from icing.
     Test satisfactory operation of accommodation heating arrangement.
     Ensure all heating systems to deck machinery are fully functional.
     Ensure all deck machinery is protected by low temperature grease & anti-freeze.
     Drain external fire main & other deck line systems.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


     Ensure all LSA will be available in freezing conditions, lifeboats heating system (if
    any) is working, engines have anti-freeze & water tanks are slack.
     Order salt or other products for melting ice & sand for anti-slip.
     Ensure availability of wooden mallets snow shovels for ice removal.
     Consider employment for additional deck hands to permit relief systems in freezing
    conditions.
     Ensure availability of lower sea suctions & check heating compressed air clearance
    systems for sea chests.
     Ensure bunker tank heating systems are working.
     Ensure cathodic protection & impressed current system is set for ice operation.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


    APPROACHING ICE

     Vessels which are not ice strengthened and with speeds up to 12 knots often
    become firmly beset in light ice condition. However ice strengthened ships should be
    able to make progress through 6/10 to 7/10 first year ice.
     The engines & steering gear must be reliable & capable of quick response.
     Navigation & communication equipment should be fully operational & radar must be
    maintained for peak performance.
    Capt. Sunil Bhabha
     Vessels should be so ballasted & trimmed so as to keep propeller completely
    submerged & as deep as possible to reduce the risk of damage to propeller.

    MASTER’S DUTIES

     The SOLAS requires the master of every vessel, when ice is reported on or near his
    track, to proceed at a moderate speed at night or to alter course to pass well clear
    of the danger zone.
     Following should be reported on meeting dangerous ice
    a) type of ice
    b) Position of the ice.
    c) UT / GMT & date of observation.
     On encountering air temperatures below freezing associated with gale force winds
    causing severe ice accumulation report should consist of
    a) Air & sea temperature
    b) Force & direction of wind & Position of the ship & UT / GMT with date of
    observation.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


    Capt. Sunil Bhabha
    ICE ACCUMULATION

     Ice accumulating on the hull & superstructure is a serious danger. It may occur from
    a) Fog combined with freezing conditions
    b) Freezing drizzle, rain or wet snow.
    c) Spray or sea water breaking over a vessel in rough weather.
     The weight of Ice which can accumulate on the rigging may increase to such an
    extent that it is liable to fall & endanger persons on deck.
     Radio & radar failure due to ice on aerials, insulators & scanners may be
    experienced.
     The increase of weights on deck due to ice will adversely affect the GM and may lead
    to loss of stability & capsizing of the vessel.
     AVOIDING ICE ACCUMULATION – If severe ice accumulation is experienced the
    prudent course of action is to
    a) steer towards warmer conditions or
    b) seek shelter as soon as possible
    c) If unable to do so it is best to reduce spray to a minimum by heading into the
    wind & sea or run before the wind at the slowest possible speed.

    OPERATING IN ICE

     Keep moving even if slowly.


     Try to work with the ice movement & not against it.

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha


     Excessive speed will lead to ice damage & too low a speed will make vessel liable to
    beset.
     Keep rudder amidships before giving stern movements.
     Avoid anchoring in ice.
     Engines must be prepared to go astern at any moment.
     Ramming & backing technique may be used to make way.
     The most serious danger from ice is getting BESET; the pressure of ice may crush
    the hull of the vessel. Changing draughts & trim may be utilized to come off ice.

    Lastly, due to all these difficulties, transit in ice regions continues to be a challenge
    that must be met with skill, knowledge & innovation.

    *************

    Capt. Sunil Bhabha

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