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Ship Construction Standards

There are a number of standards for the design and construction of ice class vessels. These include the Finnish Swedish Ice Class Rules, Russian Maritime Register Rules, Canadian Arctic Shipping Pollution Prevention Regulations and Equivalent Standards for the Construction of Arctic Class Ships, and other individual classification society rules. Canada has worked closely with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) in producing the IMO Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Regions and the IACS Unified Requirements for the construction of ships meant for operation in ice-covered waters. The current direction of ice class standards is for prospective Polar Class shipowners to use these two standards for the construction of all ice class ships. A new Ship Safety Bulletin is under review outlining the policy for application of the IACS Polar Rules.

Continuing research and development of Arctic ship technologies allows vessels to operate in increasingly safe, responsible, and sustainable ways. Transport Canada has supported this research and development over the years.

Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent

Date modified:
2010-01-14