Foreword (2012) This Chapter provides requirements for optional ice strengthening classes. Sections 6-1-1 through 6-1-3 contain Polar Class ice strengthening requirements@ based on IACS UR I1@ I2@ and I3@ for vessels intended for operation in ice-covered Polar waters. Section 6-1-4 contains requirements for Enhanced Polar Class notation. Section 6-1-5 contains general ice strengthening requirements for vessels intended for navigation in first-year ice. Section 6-1-6 represents 1985 Finnish Swedish Ice Class Rules@ as amended. The requirements in this Section are applicable to vessels of any length and are in addition to those in other Sections of these Rules or Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels Under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length@ as appropriate. Vessels intended for navigation in the Canadian Arctic are to comply with the requirements of the Canadian Arctic Shipping Pollution Prevention Regulations. ABS can issue an Arctic Pollution Prevention Certificate when authorized by the Canadian flag administration. It is the responsibility of the owner to determine which ice class is most suitable for the intended service. With publication of this edition of the Rules@ the IACS Unified Requirements for Polar Class Ships are incorporated into Sections 6-1-1 through 6-1-3@ replacing the requirements of the previous ABS general ice classes: A5 through A1. Where the IACS requirements do not have a requirement comparable to an existing ABS requirement@ the ABS requirement has been retained in Section 6-1-4 for an optional Enhanced notation. With these changes@ the ice strengthening requirements for general ice classes A0@ B0@ C0@ and D0 and for non-self-propelled vessels have been retained in Section 6-1-5. The attention of designers@ owners and operators is directed to the optional ABS Guide for Vessels Operating in Low Temperature Environments for considerations not covered in this Chapter. Further@ IMO statutory instruments having requirements specific to cold regions operations also is to be considered.