TO protect ships, crew and passengers in Arctic and Antarctic waters, the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) and has accordingly amended the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
The Polar Code will also be mandatory under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) as it contains environment related provisions, according to an International Maritime Organisation press briefing.
But Russian deputy Transport Minister Victor Clerks, whose country is involved in Arctic more than any other, recently warned that the code would be hard, if not impossible, to live by and detrimental to shipping.
Speaking to journalists at a Copenhagen shipping conference, about banning overboard discharges, he said smaller vessels operating between Russia's Arctic ports would have difficulty complying with all that was demanded in the code.
There was also the unspoken issue of the number of icebreakers in the Arctic that may have to comply with the Polar Code, with Mr Clerks suggesting that state-owned and operated icebreakers could be exempt as warships are.
The Polar Code and SOLAS amendments were adopted during the 94th session of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) held at the IMO's London headquarters.
The Polar Code provides goals and functional requirements in relation to ship design, construction, equipment, operations, training, search and rescue, and environmental protection matters relevant to ships, in polar waters, reported GAC Hot Port News.
The newly adopted SOLAS chapter XIV "Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters," adds additional requirements, by making mandatory the Polar Code that highlights potential hazards of operating in polar regions, including ice, remoteness and rapidly changing and severe weather conditions.
The expected date of entry into force of the SOLAS amendments is January 1, 2017. Ships constructed before January 1, 2017 will be required to meet the requirements of the Polar Code by the first intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after January 1, 2018.
The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is expected to adopt the Code and associated MARPOL amendments at its next session in May 2015, with an entry-into-force date to be aligned with the SOLAS amendments.
WORLD SHIPPING
02 December 2014 - 22:49
UN's new Polar Code to be enforced, Russia still unhappy with rules
TO protect ships, crew and passengers in Arctic and Antarctic waters, the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) and has accordingly amended the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
WORLD SHIPPING
02 December 2014 - 22:49
UN's new Polar Code to be enforced, Russia still unhappy with rules
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