December 16 2025

The updated Polar Code requires not just radar upgrades, but the installation of new software on ice-class vessels from January 1

Evolution of Marine Digital Technologies (EMDT) has received a Type Approval Certificate from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) for its ice radar. This prepares the company for the new requirements of the International Polar Code (IMO), which will come into effect on January 1, 2026. These requirements require all Polar Class vessels (RS1–RS3) to have ice detection systems. This was reported to PortNews by the EMDT press service.

Ice detection systems, which the Polar Code requires be installed on vessels, are more than just upgraded radars. This must be specialized software with special signal processing algorithms. Its purpose is to clearly highlight ice field configurations, channel boundaries, ice ridges and other obstacles on the screen, integrating this information with electronic charts (ECDIS). The main focus of the new regulations is a shift from experience-based navigation to management supported by digital data and technology. Vessels operating in the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor (TTC) will be required to have specialized situational awareness equipment on board.

As Vladimir Ponomarev, Director of Development at EMDT, noted, the 2025 changes will transform ice navigation into a more regulated, technologically advanced, and data-driven process. “The key trend is situational awareness through digitalization: a vessel must not simply ‘feel’ the ice with its hull, but ‘see’ it in advance and analyze it electronically. This is a huge step forward in improving the efficiency of ice navigation and preventing accidents and, consequently, the failure of expensive equipment.”

One of the first ready-to-install, certified ice radar systems was created in Russia, where the world’s largest icebreaker fleet has created not only strategic demand but also a broad practical base for developing such technologies. “The Russian EMDT ice radar was not only developed in accordance with new standards but also successfully passed all required testing, received registration with the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, and proved its effectiveness in real-world conditions on vessels of the Northern Fleet,” noted the EMDT press service.

To ensure fleet compliance with the new Polar Code requirements, shipowners can choose a comprehensive modernization or targeted upgrades. In terms of implementation, there are two technological approaches.

The first is an integrated option within the navigation bridge, integrating all key vessel control functions, as implemented in the EMDT Pro-Mariner 5000 MFD INS. This comprehensive solution, in addition to the ice radar, includes all essential onboard systems, such as electronic digital imagery (EDIS) with the ability to display satellite imagery over navigation charts, a virtual instrument panel, a chart display radar, a control system for hydroacoustic sensors and video cameras, etc.

The second option involves installing the ice radar as a standalone hardware and software module. The EMDT solution easily integrates with existing onboard navigation equipment, including foreign-made ones, allowing fleets operating in northern latitudes to be modernized quickly and cost-effectively.

According to Vladimir Ponomarev, ergonomics and ease of use were at the core of the design of the new ice radar station created at EMCT: “The equipment we developed, despite its technological complexity, is intuitive and quickly mastered by the navigator. A significant portion of our work is dedicated to transforming the new device into a familiar and reliable tool. This approach, in our view, not only ensures formal compliance with the updated Polar Code but also truly improves the safety and efficiency of ice routing through ease of use and increased crew confidence.»

Source: https://portnews.ru/news/385923/