Class notation for ships operating regular services in ice conditions with ice floes of 1.0 m level ice thickness.
The notation verifies that the vessel has sufficient strength, engine power and equipment to operate in the specified northern Baltic ice conditions or similar areas. Baltic Ice Classes are owned and have been developed by Finnish-Swedish authorities. The DNV class notation ICE 1A*F is considered to be equivalent to Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A Super but with some additional requirements based on analysis of experienced bow damage.
You get a vessel which can operate in the Northern Baltic or similar areas in the winter season, and to some extent can operate independently of ice breaker assistance.
Ice operations will, in general, require increased machinery output. This has been further emphasised by the new Baltic Rules, which among other things have removed upper limits used for the displacement of 80,000 tons.
DNV’s Baltic rules are applicable to ships operating in broken channels made by ice breakers in first-year ice or in open waters with small ice floes. ICE-1A*F vessels can to a certain degree operate independently of icebreaker assistance. The following areas are subject to requirements:
Hull – ice belt
Machinery output
Shaft – System
Propeller
Mooring
Heating of ballast tanks
Sea chest
Air capacity for starting compressor (1A*)
Rudder and steering gear
Corrosion protection
Newbuilding plan approval and site survey in accordance with relevant parts of the Rules. Approval is carried out at the responsible approval centre. The site survey is carried out at the building yard and its suppliers' premises.