Shipping in the Arctic regionGrowth of Arctic shipping

The Arctic is estimated to hold up to 25% of the world’s undiscovered hydrocarbon resources. Improved technology enables oil companies to consider moving exploration activities to Arctic regions. Already, there are large oil and gas developments in the Pechora Sea, Ob Bay, the North Slope of Alaska and the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. The current economic and geopolitical climate notwithstanding, there is potential for Arctic exploration to expand in the coming years.

At the same time, changes in the world’s climate are now making it possible for suitable ships to make use of previously inaccessible routes, offering shorter transits for international trade. The use of the Northern Sea Route and the North-West Passage in the summer-autumn months could cut thousands of miles from traditional trading routes and may be a suitable alternative for some trades.

Tourism has also increased the amount of shipping activity in the Arctic region.

A challenging environment for shippingShipping operations in the Arctic present the ship operator with unique risks requiring special considerations. Not only is the area remote, with very limited navigational and support infrastructures, but ice conditions, including multi-year ice, may be encountered year round. With temperatures to -50°C not uncommon in the Arctic, exposure risks to personnel, together with failure risks to the hulls and equipment on board, are high if not managed correctly and professionally.

The part played by OCIMFOCIMF members are committed to ensuring the safe operation of tankers, offshore support/construction vessels and terminals in Arctic areas and the maintenance of high standards of safety and environmental protection. The Ice Sub-committee, reporting to the General Purposes Committee, provides members, operators of tankers and marine facilities with an opportunity for open discussion and sharing of best practices relating to the challenges of operating and navigating safely in ice. It is an active forum, whose members provide guidance to OCIMF members, charterers and vetting groups and contribute to the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The IMO Polar Code, which came into force on 1 January 2017, introduces mandatory provisions to regulate and ensure the safety of shipping in polar waters (both the Arctic and Antarctic regions). The Polar Code constitutes a major step forward in the protection of the marine environment. The Ice Sub-committee played an important contributing role in the development of this code by attending IMO meetings and actively participating in the correspondence group.

To promote and maintain safety and environment protection, the Ice Sub-committee has published helpful documents for the benefit of OCIMF members and industry. These provide up-to-date guidance on best practices relating to the safe operation of tankers and offshore support vessels in the Arctic. These documents include:

• The Use of Large Tankers in Seasonal First Year Ice and Severe Sub-Zero Conditions (2009).

• Offshore Vessel Operations in Ice and/or Severe Sub-Zero Temperatures (2014).

• Northern Sea Route Navigation: Best Practices and Challenges (2017).

• Polar Waters Operations Manual, in conjunction with ICS (forthcoming).

• Marine Terminals Impacted by Ice or Severe Sub Zero Conditions (forthcoming).

The issues covered by these documents vary from advice on ice conditions, ice class notations, engine power and the winterisation of ships, to checklists for conducting formal risk assessments. The guidance is practical, for example on operating with icebreaker support alongside offshore terminals, and is based on the operational

experience of a wide range of OCIMF members. Where appropriate, the documents direct members and charterers to related websites dealing with ice certification and permissions, routeing, latest ice maps and icebreaker assistance.

Looking aheadThe potential growth in Arctic oil exploration and shipping will be driven by a technological change, both as it relates to improving and extending our ability to operate successfully in Arctic conditions and in the management of the risks associated with these operations. For OCIMF members these technological changes are leading to adaptations in the design of tankers, offshore support vessels and terminals to adequately meet the challenges of this environment. These, in turn, require changes in safety management and environmental protection systems to ensure that they keep pace with the developing capabilities of vessels, terminals and systems. Against this background, and taking account of any new political, economic or regulatory developments, OCIMF’s Ice Sub-committee members, in association with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), are currently producing new additional guidance for shipping operators on the contents of their Polar Waters Operations Manuals as required by the Polar Code.

The Ice Sub-committee remains committed to ensuring that members have access to the very latest guidance and best practices on Arctic shipping and terminal operations.

For more information, visit www.ocimf.org or email enquiries@ocimf.org

Oil Companies International Marine Forum 29 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9BU, United Kingdom

T +44 (0)20 7654 1200 | F +44 (0)20 7654 1205 | E enquiries@ocimf.org

ocimf.org