DNV have the expertise and understand operations in cold climates, and has included ice strengthening requirements in its class Rules for more than 125 years.

Today almost 400 of the DNV-classed tankers are ice strengthened. Our Rules are based on Norway’s long cold climate shipping history, extensive operational experience from modern shipping in cold climate areas and significant R&D activities during the past few decades.

Since ship operations in cold climates require much more than just ice strengthening of a ship’s structure and propeller, we have developed technical standards that are relevant for safety and reliability under cold climate operations.

The degree of necessary winterization may vary from just control of icing in open waters to ice-breaking abilities in temperatures of -40oC and below. For this reason, class notations applicable for different cold climate conditions have been developed, covering the entire range of alternatives.

DNV has incorporated the Finnish and Swedish Maritime Authorities’ (FMA) Rules in its Baltic Rules.