Foreship announced that it has started Polar Code projects with Crystal Cruises and Scenic for the construction of its luxury ships. Both ships are Polar Code vessels with PC6 ice class and will be based on Foreship project design.
The company aims to help cruise operators design or modify ships so that they will comply with the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, which is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2017. Initially covering ships built after that date, the code will apply to all ships bound for destinations with latitudes 60 degrees or higher from January 2018.
“Few cruise ships have been strengthened for ice, even these have often been strengthened to the lowest possible ice class, but the Polar Code means owners must adopt a more exacting approach, even at the concept stage,” said Markus Aarnio, chairman of Foreship. “New Polar Code requirements for ships include a defined Polar Service Temperature, based on actual temperatures in the intended operational area. Stability considerations need to include ice accretion, which is not always easy in the case of older ships with small stability margins.”
Foreship also recommends that concept designs take into account other hazards posed to mariners by the harsh environment.
“All equipment, from deck machinery to lifeboats, escapes and firefighting systems, need to work in low temperatures,” said Aarnio. “Arctic and Antarctic waters have a number of similarities, but there are also significant differences. There is relatively little multi-year ice in the Antarctic, while Arctic sea ice survives over many summer seasons. This will affect the required ice strengthening, even if most Polar Code cruise ships plan to operate mostly in open water.”
