Introduction
The
International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)
entered into force on the 1st January 2017.
Designed
to ensure safe ship operation and the protection of the polar
environment, the Code was approved by the IMO between 2014
and
2015 and was made mandatory through separate amendments to the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and
the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships (MARPOL).
The
Code is structured around a goal-based standards (GBS) approach,
which facilitates the transition from the traditional, prescriptive
approach of past regulations, to one that allows for dynamic
compliance in response to evolving technology.
Why
is the Code required?
The
Code has been developed in response to an increase in the number of
ships operating in the polar regions.
This is due to the following:
An
increasing number of tourists visiting the Antarctic and Arctic
regions
global
warming, which has led to melting ice caps and, as a result, the
creation of more accessible routes through the polar regions newly
accessible resources (such as oil and gas) due to melting ice caps
(one estimate has stated that 22% of the worlds recoverable
hydrocarbons are in the Arctic circle).
These
factors pose a serious risk to the polar maritime environment because
of the pollution and environmental damage that they cause.
Furthermore,
the remoteness of the region makes it dangerous for seafarers and
passengers, especially in the event of an emergency.
Full text of the code,
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