International Maritime Organization-Written evidence (ARC0066)

THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS (POLAR

INTRODUCTION

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations specialized agency with
responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by
ships. It was established by a United Nations Conference in 1948 and, following the entry
into force of the relevant IMO Convention in 1958, met for the first time in 1959. The
purposes of the Organization, as summarized by Article 1(a) of the Convention, are "to
provide machinery for cooperation among Governments in the field of governmental
regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in
international trade; to encourage and facilitate the general adoption of the highest
practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and
prevention and control of marine pollution from ships". It is also empowered to deal with
administrative and legal matters related to these purposes. IMO currently (December 2014)
has 170 Member States and three Associate Members. The overall objectives are summed up
in the IMO slogan: "Safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans".

Ships operating in polar waters

Ships operating in the polar 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
clean-up 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.

Over the last 20 years or so, IMO has developed a raft of requirements, guidelines and
recommendations regarding navigation in polar waters, relating to maritime safety
(construction, search and rescue, navigation, life-saving, etc.) and marine pollution
prevention (designation of special areas, carriage of heavy fuel oil, etc.) as well as
certification and qualification of seafarers on ships operating in polar areas. All the work
done over two decades culminated with the development of a mandatory International Code
for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code).

INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS (POLAR

The Polar Code contains an introduction and two parts, which are mandatory, namely parts
1-A (Safety measures) and II-A (Pollution prevention measures). As well as mandatory
provisions, recommendations are also include in parts 1-B (Additional guidance regarding the
provisions of the introduction and part 1-A) and 11-B (Information and additional guidance to
part II-A) of the Code.

Polar Code: what it means for ships

The Polar Code has been developed using a risk-based approach in determining scope and
adopts a holistic approach to reduce identified risks. The main goal of the Polar Code is to
provide for safe ship operation and the protection of the polar environment by addressing
risks present in polar waters and not adequately mitigated by other IMO instruments.

Some of the main provisions are outlined below.

Design and construction

The Polar Code identifies three categories of ship which may operate in polar waters, as
follows:

• Category A ship means a ship designed for operation in polar waters in at least
medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions.

• Category B ship means 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.

• Category C ship means a ship designed to operate in open water or in ice

New ships of categories A and B ships must be designed and built to be able to withstand
flooding resulting from hull penetration due to ice impact; while Category C ships need not be
ice strengthened if, in the opinion of the national maritime Administration (i.e. the
Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly), the ships' structure is
adequate for its intended operation.

Ships intended to operate in low air temperature must be constructed with materials suitable
for operation at the ships polar service temperature.

In ice strengthened ships, the structure of the ship must be able to resist both global and local
structural loads anticipated under foreseen ice conditions.

Ships must have sufficient stability in intact condition when subject to ice accretion and the
stability calculations must take into account an "icing allowance" of 30 kg of ice per square
metre on exposed weather decks and gangways and 7.5 kg of ice per square metre for
projected lateral area of each side of the vessel above the water plane.

Operations and manning

All ships operating in Polar waters will be required to have on board a Polar Ship Certificate
and the ship's Polar Water Operational Manual (PWOM), which is intended to provide the
owner, operator, master and crew with sufficient information regarding the ship's operational
capabilities and limitations in polar waters, in order to support their decision-making process
(including in normal operations and in emergency situations).

Training

While operating in polar waters, masters, chief mates and officers in charge of a navigational
watch must have completed appropriate training, in accordance with the requirements of the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers (STCW Convention) and STCW Code. Every crew member shall be made familiar
with the procedures and equipment contained or referenced in the PWOM relevant to their
assigned duties.

When operating in "open waters", the master, chief mate and officers in charge of a
navigational watch must have completed basic training for master, chief mate and officers in
charge of a navigational watch, when on tankers and passenger ships.

When operating in "other waters" (i.e. including ice), masters, chief mates must have
completed advanced training for master and chief mate.

Equipment

Ships must carry specialist equipment suitable for low temperatures and dealing with ice,
snow and long periods of darkness.

When operating in polar waters:

• ships need to be equipped to receive up-to-date information including ice

• ships intended to operate in low air temperature must be fitted with a suitable
means to de-ice sufficient conning position windows to provide unimpaired
forward and astern vision and the windows should be fitted with an efficient
means of clearing melted ice, freezing rain, snow, mist and spray from outside and
accumulated condensation from inside;

• adequate thermal protection is to be provided for all persons on board, taking into
account the intended voyage, the anticipated weather conditions (cold and wind),
and the potentialfor immersion in polar water;
 • for passenger ships, a proper sized immersion suit or a thermal protective aid is to
be provided for each person on board;

• ships operating in areas and during periods where ice accretion is likely to occur
should be designed to minimize the accretion of ice and be equipped with means
for removing ice, such as electrical and pneumatic devices, and/or special tools
such as axes or wooden clubs for removing ice from bulwarks, rails and erections;
and

• all components of fire safety systems and appliances are to be designed to ensure
availability and effectiveness under polar service temperature and the design of
fire safety systems and appliances need to take into consideration the need for
persons to wear bulky and cumbersome cold weather gear.

Adoption of the safety measures of the Polar Code

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninety-fourth session (MSC 94), held at the IMO
Headquarters from 17 to 21 November 2014, adopted the new chapter XIV (Safety measures
for ships operating in polar waters) of the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS), as amended, which makes mandatory the adopted International Code for
Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)- introduction and part 1-A (Safety measures).

Expected adoption of the pollution prevention measures of the Polar Code

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its sixty-eighth session (MEPC 68), to be
held at the IMO Headquarters in May 2015, is expected to adopt amendments to the
Annexes of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL), which will make mandatory the introduction and part II-A (Pollution prevention
measures) of the Code.

December 2014