INGENIEUR
Polar Code
The Polar Code is intended to cover the full range of shipping-related matters relevant to navigation in waters surrounding the two poles : ship design , construction and equipment , operational and training concerns , search and rescue , and , equally important , the protection of the unique environment and eco-systems of the polar regions .
The Polar Code covers the full range of design , construction , equipment , operational , training , search and rescue and environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in the inhospitable waters surrounding the two poles .
The Polar Code includes mandatory measures covering safety and pollution prevention and recommendatory provisions as well .
The Code will require ships intending to operate in the defined waters of the Antarctic and Arctic to apply for a Polar Ship Certificate , which will classify the vessel as a :
● Category A ship – a ship designed for operation in polar waters at least in medium first-year ice , which may include old ice inclusions ;
● Category B ship – a ship not included in category A , designed for operation in polar waters in at least thin first-year ice , which may include old ice inclusions ; or
● Category C ship – a ship designed to operate in open water or in ice conditions less severe than those included in Categories A and B .
The issuance of a certificate would require an assessment , taking into account the anticipated range of operating conditions and hazards the ship may encounter in the polar waters . The assessment would include information on identified operational limitations and plans or procedures or additional safety equipment necessary to mitigate incidents with potential safety or environmental consequences .
Ships will need to carry a Polar Water Operational Manual to provide the Owner , Operator , Master and crew with sufficient information regarding the ship ’ s operational capabilities and limitations in order to support their decision-making process .
The chapters in the Code each set out goals and functional requirements , including those covering :
● ship structure ;
● stability and subdivision ;
● watertight and weathertight integrity ;
● machinery installations ;
● operational safety ;
● fire safety / protection ;
● life-saving appliances and arrangements ;
● safety of navigation ;
● communications ;
● voyage planning ;
● manning and training ;
● prevention of oil pollution ;
● prevention of pollution formed from noxious liquid substances from ships ;
● prevention of pollution by sewage from ships ; and
● prevention of pollution by discharge of garbage from ships .
The safety of ships operating in the harsh , remote and vulnerable polar areas and the protection of the pristine environments around the two poles have always been a matter of concern for the International Maritime Organisation ( IMO ) and many relevant requirements , provisions and recommendations have been developed over the years .
Trends and forecasts indicate that polar shipping will grow in volume and diversify in nature over the coming years and these challenges need to be met without compromising either the safety of life at sea or the sustainability of the polar environments .
Ships operating in the Arctic and Antarctic environments are exposed to a number of unique risks . Poor weather conditions and the relative lack of good charts , communication systems and other navigational aids pose challenges for mariners . The remoteness of the areas makes rescue or cleanup operations difficult and costly . Cold temperatures may reduce the effectiveness of numerous components of the ship , ranging from deck machinery and emergency equipment to sea suctions . When ice is present , it can impose additional loads on the hull , propulsion system and appendages .
The international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters ( Polar Code ) covers the full range of design , construction , equipment ,
32 VOL 83 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020