Introduction
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.385(94) – International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) – (Adopted On 21 November 2014) - Introduction

Introduction

 1 Goal

The goal of this 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 instruments of the Organization.

2 Definitions

For the purpose of this Code, the terms used have the meanings defined in the following paragraphs. Terms used in part I-A, but not defined in this section shall have the same meaning as defined in SOLAS. Terms used in part II-A, but not defined in this section shall have the same meaning as defined in article 2 of MARPOL and the relevant MARPOL Annexes.

2.1 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.

2.2 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.

2.3 Category C ship means a ship designed to operate in open water or in ice conditions less severe than those included in categories A and B.

2.4 First-year ice means sea ice of not more than one winter growth developing from young ice with thickness from 0.3 m to 2.0 m1footnote.

2.5 Ice free waters means no ice present. If ice of any kind is present this term shall not be usedfootnote.

2.6 Ice of land origin means ice formed on land or in an ice shelf, found floating in waterfootnote.

2.7 MARPOL means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the 1978 Protocol relating thereto (MARPOL), as amended.

2.8 Medium first-year ice means first-year ice of 70 cm to 120 cm thickness.footnote

2.9 Old ice means sea ice which has survived at least one summer's melt; typical thickness up to 3 m or more. It is subdivided into residual first-year ice, second-year ice and multi-year icefootnote.

2.10 Open water means a large area of freely navigable water in which sea ice is present in concentrations less than 1/10. No ice of land origin is presentfootnote.

2.11 Organization means the International Maritime Organization.

2.12 Sea ice means any form of ice found at sea which has originated from the freezing of sea waterfootnote.

2.13 SOLAS means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

2.14 STCW Convention means the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

2.15 Thin first-year ice means first-year ice 30 cm to 70 cm thick.

 3 Sources of hazards

3.1 The Polar Code considers hazards which may lead to elevated levels of risk due to increased probability of occurrence, more severe consequences, or both:
  • .1 Ice, as it may affect hull structure, stability characteristics, machinery systems, navigation, the outdoor working environment, maintenance and emergency preparedness tasks and malfunction of safety equipment and systems;
  • .2 experiencing topside icing, with potential reduction of stability and equipment functionality;
  • .3 low temperature, as it affects the working environment and human performance, maintenance and emergency preparedness tasks, material properties and equipment efficiency, survival time and performance of safety equipment and systems;
  • .4 extended periods of darkness or daylight as it may affect navigation and human performance;
  • .5 high latitude, as it affects navigation systems, communication systems and the quality of ice imagery information;
  • .6 remoteness and possible lack of accurate and complete hydrographic data and information, reduced availability of navigational aids and seamarks with increased potential for groundings compounded by remoteness, limited readily deployable SAR facilities, delays in emergency response and limited communications capability, with the potential to affect incident response;
  • .7 potential lack of ship crew experience in polar operations, with potential for human error;
  • .8 potential lack of suitable emergency response equipment, with the potential for limiting the effectiveness of mitigation measures;
  • .9 rapidly changing and severe weather conditions, with the potential for escalation of incidents; and
  • .10 the environment with respect to sensitivity to harmful substances and other environmental impacts and its need for longer restoration.

3.2 The risk level within polar waters may differ depending on the geographical location, time of the year with respect to daylight, ice-coverage, etc. Thus, the mitigating measures required to address the above specific hazards may vary within polar waters and may be different in Arctic and Antarctic waters.

 4 Structure of the Code

This Code consists of Introduction, parts I and II. The Introduction contains mandatory provisions applicable to both parts I and II. Part I is subdivided into part I-A, which contains mandatory provisions on safety measures, and part I-B containing recommendations on safety. Part II is subdivided into part II-A, which contains mandatory provisions on pollution prevention, and part II-B containing recommendations on pollution prevention.

 5 Figures illustrating the Antarctic area and Arctic waters, as defined in SOLAS regulations XIV/1.2 and XIV/1.3, respectively, and MARPOL Annex I, regulations 11.46.2; Annex II, regulations 10.21.2; Annex IV, regulation 7.17.3; and Annex V, regulation 3.13.2

Figure 1 – Maximum extent of Antarctic area applicationfootnote

Figure 2 – Maximum extent of Arctic waters applicationfootnote

Parent topic: Resolution MSC.385(94) – International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) – (Adopted On 21 November 2014)
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