Passage planning and navigation in ice
What is being checked
The inspector is checking whether the bridge and engine teams can plan and execute an ice-affected passage within the vessel's structural, machinery, temperature, draught and competence limits using current ice information and defined escalation criteria.
Ready onboard
0/7 completePractice questions
Answer aloud, then open the preparation point.
1What is the planned trigger for calling the Master?
State a measurable trigger based on ice detection, distance, concentration, visibility, forecast deterioration, traffic, machinery status or deviation from the approved route.
2How do you know the latest ice information is still valid?
Show the issue time, forecast period and source, then compare it with onboard observations, warnings and updated ice-service information.
3What limits the vessel's safe operation in this ice?
Identify the applicable certificate, ice class, POLARIS or approved company assessment where used, draught, temperature and machinery restrictions without claiming that ice class makes all ice safe.
4How will radar be used to detect ice?
Explain range, gain, sea-clutter and pulse settings, parallel visual lookout and the limitations of detecting small or low-freeboard ice targets.
5What changes in the engine room before entering ice?
State the agreed manning, propulsion readiness, sea-chest configuration, heating, cooling monitoring and communication status.
6May an icebreaker instruction be followed automatically?
No. Maintain the agreed signals and convoy discipline, but the Master remains responsible for the vessel and must challenge or stop an unsafe manoeuvre.
7What is the response to unexpected heavy ice?
Reduce exposure within manoeuvring limits, inform the Master and engine room, reassess route and certificate limits, seek ice-service or icebreaker advice and avoid forcing progress beyond capability.
Where an observation may arise
The berth-to-berth plan did not incorporate current ice limits, forecasts, draught or machinery constraints.
The bridge relied on an old chart or forecast without recording validity or obtaining updates.
Master call criteria, additional lookout or machinery manning changes were absent or not followed.
The vessel's route, ice regime, draught or temperature fell outside an applicable certificate or class limitation.
The team assumed all dangerous ice would be detected by radar and did not maintain effective visual or information-source cross-checks.
Signals, following distance, loss-of-contact or breakout actions were not briefed before escort.
Officers held training records but could not explain shiphandling, cooling, compass, position-fixing or propulsion risks in ice.
Master's practical note
Ask the officer to point to the exact place where the plan changes from normal navigation to ice navigation. If there is no defined trigger, team-status change and machinery response, the passage plan is not operationally complete.
Equipment boundary and references
Equipment boundary: This question also applies to declared ice-class, winterisation or routine sub-zero operations outside a Polar Ship Certificate trigger. Local ice-service instructions do not remove the Master's responsibility or override statutory and vessel limits.
References
- OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Question Library Part 2, Version 1.0, Question 12.6.1
- IMO Polar Code, Part I-A Chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12
- SOLAS Chapter V
- OCIMF The Use of Large Tankers in Seasonal First-Year Ice and Severe Sub-Zero Conditions
- BIMCO The Ice Navigation and Seamanship Handbook, First Edition 2019
Last reviewed: 2026-09-12