Chapter 11 - Life-saving appliances and survival arrangements

  11.1.1 Adequate supplies of protective clothing and thermal insulating materials should be provided in all ships operating in Arctic ice-covered waters for all persons on board at any time.

  11.1.2 Training in the use of all emergency equipment should be included as an element of the operating procedures and drills described in chapter 13. Where appropriate, dedicated training equipment should be carried to avoid compromising the performance of the emergency equipment itself.

  11.2.1 Ships operating in Arctic ice-covered waters should carry life-saving appliances and survival equipment according to their environmental conditions of operation, as indicated in paragraph 1.1.6.

  11.2.2 Personal survival kits (PSKs) as described in section 11.3 should be carried whenever a voyage is expected to encounter mean daily temperatures below 0°C.

  11.2.3 Group survival kits (GSKs) as described in section 11.4 should be carried whenever a voyage is expected to encounter ice conditions which may prevent the lowering and operation of survival craft.

  11.2.4 Sufficient PSKs and GSKs (as applicable) should be carried to cover at least 110% of the rated complement of the ship.

  11.2.5 Personal survival kits should be stored so that they may be easily retrieved in an emergency situation. Arrangements such as storage in cabins or in dedicated lockers near the assembly stations may be considered.

  11.2.6 Group survival kits should be stored so that they may be easily retrieved in an emergency situation. The containers should be located adjacent to the survival craft and liferafts and be stowed on cradles. Containers should be designed so that they may be easily moved over the ice and be floatable.

  11.3.1 A Personal survival kit should consist of the items listed in table 11.1 or appropriate alternatives.

  11.3.2 The following notice should be displayed wherever personal survival kits are stored:

  11.3.3 Personal survival kits should not be opened for training purposes. Equipment for training purposes should be provided in accordance with paragraph 11.1.2.

  11.4.1 The contents of the group survival kit should include those items defined in table 11.2 or appropriate alternatives.

  11.4.2 Where a shot gun or hunting rifle is provided to protect survivors from wildlife, it should be stored in a secure location readily available in an emergency.

  11.5.1 All lifeboats carried by Polar Class ships should be of the fully enclosed type to provide adequate shelter from the environment. Other ships which are equipped with open or partially enclosed boats should carry tarpaulins of sufficient size to provide complete coverage of the lifeboats, and suitable structure to support them.

  11.5.2 The capacity of lifeboats should be evaluated with regard to operability, accessibility, seating capacity and overall space considering the needs of personnel wearing suitable Polar clothing.

  11.5.3 Ice accretion should be regularly removed from the lifeboats and launching equipment to ensure ease of launching when required. An icing removal mallet should be available in the vicinity of the lifeboats.

  11.5.4 All lifeboat engines should be equipped with a means to ensure they will start readily when required at the minimum anticipated operating temperature.

  11.5.5 The lifeboat engine fuel oil should be suitable for operation in the minimum anticipated operating temperature.

  11.5.6 Drinking water should be stored in containers that allow for expansion due to freezing.

  11.5.7 Consideration should be given to the provision of additional emergency rations to account for high rates of energy expenditure under Arctic conditions.

  11.6.1 Ice accretion should be regularly removed from the liferafts, cradles and launching equipment to ensure ease of launching and inflation when required. An icing removal mallet should be available in the vicinity of the liferafts.

  11.6.2 Ships should carry in a warm space in the vicinity of the liferafts manual inflation pumps that are proven to be effective in the expected air temperatures.

  11.6.3 Air or other proven cold temperature gas should be used for the inflation of lifesaving equipment according to their environmental conditions of operation, as indicated in paragraph 1.1.6.

  11.6.4 Consideration should be given to the provision of additional emergency rations to account for high rates of energy expenditure under Arctic conditions.