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RightShip Guide

THE DEEPDRAFT · RIGHTSHIP PREPARATION

Floating-ice detection

RISQ 16.5Section 16 · Ice or Polar Water OperationsSource marking: V

Applicability: Complete this section only where the vessel has an ice-class notation, is navigating or intends to navigate in ice, or holds a polar water certificate. Retain each question’s additional conditions.

What is being checked

The ship can detect ice and understands the limits of its equipment.

Ready on board

0 / 4 checked

Prepare the ship-specific evidence against RISQ 3.2. Use the approved vessel procedures and equipment instructions for operation and maintenance.

Identify the available ice-detection means for inspector comments, including radar, searchlights and lookouts as applicable.For prolonged darkness, check the source’s provision of at least two suitable searchlights controllable from conning positions.Check illumination for docking, astern manoeuvres and emergency towing, providing all-round coverage as far as practicable.Have bridge personnel aware of standard marine radar limitations in ice and the effect of darkness, snow and fog.

Practice questions

Preparation prompts derived from this entry, not an official inspector interview script.

1Does a standard marine radar give a reliable picture of all floating ice?

The source cautions that it does not provide a good picture of ice conditions and discusses other aids.

Where a finding may arise

Missing evidence, defects or gaps in familiarity against these checks may prevent a satisfactory answer. These are derived preparation concerns, not additional explicit finding criteria or reported past observations.

Past observations for practice

Anonymised reports, manually reviewed before publication. These are reported experiences, not additional inspection requirements.

No reviewed observations have been added for this entry.

Share an observation for private review

Remove vessel, company and inspector names, report numbers, exact dates and confidential information. Do not paste a complete inspection report.

Source clarification

Cross-polarised radar is discussed as an option with improved ice-feature resolution; the source does not require fitting a particular radar product.

References and source status

RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire, November 2025, version 3.2. Section 16, page 224, reference 16.5.

The explanation, checklist and practice answer derive from the supplied questionnaire. Reported observations are separately contributed and manually reviewed; they are not official RISQ guidance.

Independent DeepDraft preparation guide, based on the supplied RISQ 3.2 questionnaire. Not an official RightShip product or inspection report.