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Polar Class Notation and UR I2 / UR I3 Compliance

Ships that meet the requirements of UR I2 and UR I3 may be eligible for a Polar Class notation. These requirements are in addition to the standard open-water criteria set by the respective Classification Society.

If both the hull and machinery are built to comply with different Polar Class standards, the vessel will be assigned the lower of the two classes on its Certificate of Classification. However, any component (hull or machinery) that meets the requirements of a higher Polar Class should also be clearly indicated in the certificate or an equivalent document.

Vessels that are granted a Polar Class notation and fulfill the relevant UR I2 and UR I3 requirements may also receive the additional notation "Icebreaker". This designation applies to ships with an operational profile that includes ice escort or ice management functions, and that possess the power and design characteristics necessary for aggressive operations in ice-covered waters.

For ships with a Polar Class notation, the hull form and propulsion power must be sufficient to ensure independent operation at continuous speed in representative ice conditions, as defined in Table 1 for the corresponding Polar Class.

If a ship or ship-shaped unit is not intended to operate independently in ice, this limitation must be explicitly stated in the Certificate of Classification or its equivalent.