International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters

The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters or Polar Code is an international regime adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2014.[1] The Code sets out regulations for shipping in the Polar regions, principally relating to Ice navigation and ship design.

Background

The Polar Code is a proposed binding international framework to protect the two polar regions—Arctic (north pole region) and Antarctic (south pole region)—from maritime risks.[2] The Polar Code stems from previous IMO documents, including voluntary guidelines in both 2002[3] and 2010.[4] The Polar Code is being developed in consideration of existing treaties that encompass safety (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea or "SOLAS") and environmental protections (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 or "MARPOL").[5]

Scope of subject matter

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is currently developing the Polar Code, which would cover 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 Code will not be in force for ships less than 500GT, fishing vessels or those entitled to sovereign immunity. Many environmental protections are already effective in Antarctica and not yet in effect in the Arctic. For example, A new regulation from MARPOL now protects the Antarctic from pollution by heavy grade oils. This measure was adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), at its 60th session in March, 2010. The measure entered into force on 1 August 2011.[2] However, this regulation does not apply to Arctic ship operations.

Recent progress

As part of ongoing international work on the Polar Code, an IMO Workshop on the code's Environmental Aspects was held in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in September 2011. The report and some of the presentations from the workshop can be found on the IMO's website.[6] In February 2012, the IMO's Marine Safety Committee ("MSC") released a report detailing progress on the Polar Code. As of 2012, the MSC "decided to keep any decision on environmental requirements to be included in the Code in abeyance, pending further consideration at DE 57 [2013].".[7] In November 2014, the Polar Code was approved by the MSC, but will be tabled in the assembly in December 2014 and the MEPC in 2015 for final approval. Even if approved in 2015, it will come into effect only in 2017 for new ships and 2018 for existing ships[1]

On December 22, 2016 the Russian shuttle tanker Shturman Albanov became the first ship to be certified in compliance with the Polar Code.[8]

Criticism

Many industry bodies and environmental groups termed the final draft Polar code of 2014 as "too weak" and "diluted". The pollution requirements in the arctic waters are even more lax than those in the Mediterranean Sea, allowing ships to throw food waste overboard in arctic waters 12 miles from ice.[9] The structural requirements too were found lax: for instance, being ice classed is not a requirements for ships making one arctic passage. Polar certification does not require a physical separate survey and the Polar Code allows this to be simply sent by email.[10]

The Polar Code is not addressing whole groups of vessels as well as many known issues. The fishing vessels and those less than 500GT do not need to comply with the Code. The air pollution and “green house” gasses are not mentioned in the Polar Code. There are recommendations about ballast water management and anti-fouling paint which leaves the choice to comply or not to the vessel.[11]

References
  1. Mathiesen, Karl (November 21, 2014). "Polar code agreed to prevent Arctic environmental disasters". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2014-11-23. Retrieved Nov 24, 2014.
  2. IMO. "Shipping in polar waters". www.imo.org. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  3. IMO. "GUIDELINES FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN ARCTIC ICE-COVERED WATERS" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-12-25. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  4. IMO. "GUIDELINES FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  5. Deggim, H. "Polar Code PPT" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  6. IMO. "Report of the Working Group" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  7. IMO. "DE 56/25" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  8. Schuler, Mike (December 28, 2016). "Russian Shuttle Tanker Becomes First Ship Certified to IMO's Polar Code". The Maritime Executive. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. A Russian arctic shuttle tanker has become the first ship to be certified in compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s upcoming Polar Code regulations for the improved safety of ships operating in the polar regions. The Shturman Albanov received a Polar Ship Certificate issued by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping on December 22, 2016 . The certificate confirms the vessel is in compliance with the requirements of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, more commonly referred to as the Polar Code.
  9. "Polar Code too weak to properly protect polar environments from increased shipping activity". Seas at risk. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  10. Haun, Eric (21 November 2014). "Environmental Groups: IMO Polar Code Too Weak". Marine Link. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  11. skachakov (April 5, 2016). "International code of safety for ships operating in polar waters (Polar Code)". Archived from the original on April 27, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.