Chapter 6 - Anchoring and towing arrangements
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1056 – Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters – (Adopted on 23 December 2002) - Annex - Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters - Part A - Construction Provisions - Chapter 6 - Anchoring and towing arrangements

Chapter 6 - Anchoring and towing arrangements

Parent topic: Part A - Construction Provisions

6.1 General

 All Polar Class ships navigating in Arctic ice-covered waters should be capable of anchoring and providing limited assistance in the case of debilitating damage or breakdown, towards the prevention of a catastrophic loss or pollution incident. The capability of ships to provide assistance should be considered of prime importance, having due regard to the lack of repair facilities, the limited number of dedicated towing ships available and the response time that may be required by a dedicated towing ship to be able to provide effective assistance in Arctic ice-covered waters.

6.2 Anchoring arrangements

  6.2.1 Ships of Polar Classes 1 to 5 inclusive and icebreakers of all classes should, as far as practicable, be designed to protect the anchor from being dislodged from its stowed position and from jamming or damaging the hull by direct impact with ice.

  6.2.2 Anchoring systems should be provided with an independent means of securing the anchor so that the anchor cable can be disconnected for use as an emergency towing bridle.

6.3 Towing arrangements

  6.3.1 All Polar Class ships designed to perform dedicated towing operations and all icebreakers should be equipped with line throwing apparatus in addition to that required for life-saving. This apparatus should be capable of delivering messenger lines for the transfer of towing equipment. Such line throwing apparatus should not be of the powder/rocket type, in order that it may be safely used to make a transfer to a tanker.

  6.3.2 All Polar Class ships designed to perform dedicated towing operations should be provided with a quick release system, operable from the conning position.

  6.3.3 Where fitted, close coupled bow to stern towing arrangements should comprise strengthened bow plating on the towed ship, appropriate towing slings, non-interfering positioning of bower anchors and disallowance of bulbous bows. In this case, arrangements should be provided for securing the anchor in the stowed position.

6.4 Emergency towing arrangements

  6.4.1 All Polar Class ships should be capable of receiving emergency towing assistance.

  6.4.2 Where appropriate towing arrangements should facilitate connection and release of a towline and provide bollards, fairleads, and other components suitable for the size of ship on which they are fitted.

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