Chapter 1
Cold Weather Preparation CH-1 Ships plying in international waters have to travel through the remotest areas of the world
in limited amount of time, irrespective of the weather conditions. Ships often pass through different climatic and weather conditions during a single voyage, for e.g. a ship after
passing through hot African Continent can enter freezing waters of Europe within few days.
As a result, a ship experiences drastic temperature changes and therefore its equipment and machinery are installed with special systems to face the harshest conditions.
Tanker Ship in Cold Weather. Image Credit: Sohit Shukla 87
However, the seafarers on board ship must take all the precautions, especially when the ship is about to enter sub zero temperature regions.
Following steps to take when the ship is about to enter sub zero temperature areas:
• The navigational information that is received by the bridge should be well analysed for safe navigation through ice bodies
• The navigation officer must recognise different types of ice forms
• All navigation and communication equipment must be of approved type and should work at sub zero temperature
• Continuously run “clear view screens” for the bridge navigation window
• For bridge window wash, use only hot water and run the wiper blades at a slow speed setting to avoid freezing and damage of moving parts
• All the hydraulic machinery and winches to be operated to avoid freezing of oil
• The inlet valves for draft gauges to be closed
Cold Weather Preparation CH-1
• The whistle to be tried out frequently as freezing weather may jam the operation
• All the heaters in the hydraulic system to be switched on
• Filters fitted in the hydraulic oil lines to be cleaned more often to remove wax formation
• Drain the hydraulic oil cooler and isolate the same
• Take sounding of all the fresh water and ballast tanks prior entering the cold region
• Sounding to be taken at regular intervals when plying in sub zero
regions to identify any damage or leak from tank due to ice
• Check and ensure air vents of ballast tanks are clear
Draining Hydraulic Oil Cooler on Deck 89
• Start ballast sea chest heating, if required
• Lifeboat drinking water to be taken out and stored at desired place and a crew member should be assigned to bring water during emergency
• While operating steam line or providing boiler steam in lines which are not used frequently, additional precautions must be taken. Almost all the steam lines are provided with a warmup line and a main supply line.
• The warm up line should always be used before using the main line, especially when plying in cold areas
• Keep the steam injection flexible hoses ready for use
• Cold starting system of lifeboat to be kept ready
• Add anti-freeze compound in jacket water of lifeboat engine
• All cargo lines and other important lines on deck must be fully drained after use
• Adjust or shut-off veg room/ lobby cooling and use portable heaters to maintain the required temperature
Cold Weather Preparation CH-1
• Switch on and run the hydraulic oil heaters for bow thruster hydraulic at least 24 hrs before use
• Do not use bow thruster in ice
• PV breaker and deck seal in oil tanker to be added with antifreeze compound
• All greased equipment to be cleared off old grease and fresh anti- freezing grease to be applied
• All the openings from deck to the
accommodation must be kept close at all times. Do not open doors unnecessarily and allow heat to escape
Oil Heater on Deck 91
• Crew to be instructed to clear ice from deck equipment at regular intervals of time
• Shovels, hammers, crowbars, fire axes, blow lamps etc. should be readily available
• If power pack is provided, add anti-freeze and take all cold weather precautions as given by the makers
• Ice limits or regions, where suspected ice bergs can be found, should be marked on charts that are to be used for passage planning to warn duty officer of likely hazards
• Additional lookouts can be posted as ice bergs cannot be tracked by radars effectively
“On a voyage from Venezuela to Mongstad, Norway, a vessel was required to heat bunker fuel oil using steam. The fourth engineer who was new in his rank opened the main line valve fully
without warming up the steam line. The line contained water, and the frozen ice acted as a barrier against steam at high pressure and temperature.
Due to the excessive pressure generated in the line, the gasket joints gave way and the steam
flanges opened up inside the fuel tank, releasing enormous amount of steam in the fuel oil. It took ship’s crew three days to restore the steam line and remove water from the fuel oil tank.”
Real Life Incident
Cold Weather Preparation CH-1 Following Personal Precaution to be Taken:
• Safe working condition to be explained to the crew
• Hypothermia, cold burn, and their precautions must be understood by everyone
• Limit exposure time for outside work
• Adequate warm clothing and eye protection for snow blindness to be provided
• Crew to take care of their room temperature by switching on heaters and closing port holes at all times
• Crew can use silver foil inside the helmet or anywhere else where the body heat needs to be retained
• It is advisable to work with one’s back to the freezing wind. Make sure the neck is not exposed
“The Master must ensure the supply of the cold weather clothing is adequate and present in different sizes for all crew members.”
93