ICE NAVIGATION IN CANADIAN WATERS

This paper has been published by the CCG, standing for the Canadian Coast Guard, in co-operation with several Canadian authorities. The intention of the authors of the document was to provide necessary assistance to the vessels operating in all Canadian waters when iced, including Arctic waters.

The paper is expected to provide ship Masters and watchkeeping crew of all vessels passing Canadian iced waters with the required understanding of the applicable regulations as well as potential hazards, techniques of safe navigation and shipping support services. The document is arranged in five chapters. The first one is dedicated to the icebreaking and SSS, i.e. shipping support services pertaining to operational consideration, for example reporting requirements and communications. It is followed by the chapter covers the guidelines and requirements, while the third chapter addresses the matters of ice climatology as well as environmental conditions.

Finally, the last two chapters of the publication address the navigation itself, including the information included to assist inexperienced personnel and get them familiarized with the passage planning and associated navigation procedures, as well as ship performance in in iced conditions, plus basic information relating to the design and construction of the vessels for ice operations covering hull construction, engineering and auxiliary systems.