Polar Code: International Code For Ships Operating In Polar Waters

Product Description

The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters has been developed to supplement existing IMO instruments in order to increase the safety of ships` operation & mitigate the impact on the people & environment in the remote, vulnerable & potentially harsh polar waters. The Code acknowledges that polar water operation may impose additional demands on ships, their systems & operation beyond the existing requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto as amended by the 1997 Protocol (MARPOL), & other relevant binding IMO instruments. The Code acknowledges that the polar waters impose additional navigational demands beyond those normally encountered. In many areas, the chart coverage may not currently be adequate for coastal navigation. It is recognized even existing charts may be subject to unsurveyed & uncharted shoals. The Code also acknowledges that coastal communities in the Arctic could be, & that polar ecosystems are, vulnerable to human activities, such as ship operation. The relationship between the additional safety measures & the protection of the environment is acknowledged as any safety measure taken to reduce the probability of an accident, will largely benefit the environment. While Arctic & Antarctic waters have similarities, there are also significant differences. Hence, although the Code is intended to apply as a whole to both Arctic & Antarctic, the legal & geographical differences between the two areas have been taken into account. The key principles for developing the Polar Code have been to use a risk-based approach in determining scope & to adopt a holistic approach in reducing identified risks. It will come into effect only in 2017 for new ships & 2018 forexisting ships.