Vanguard Magazine

What oWners and operators need to knoW about the polar Code A ship operating in fully ice covered waters t InnovatIon I 34 DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 www.vanguardcanada.com While the Polar Code is due to be adopted at IMO's MEPC68 this month – the safety element was endorsed last November – the next date in everyone's calender is 1 January 2017. After this date all vessels carrying SOLAS certificates that intend to trade in the polar regions must comply with the Code and carry a Polar Ship Certificate. Lloyd's Register has been actively involved with the IMO in the development of the Code, including representing IACS dur- ing the Polar Code working group discussions. "Our main role has been to identify to the working group challenges on how the Code will be implemented, as well as providing technical advice on areas such as ice class and temperature definitions," says LR's current IACS representative Rob Hindley. What is the Polar Code? The Polar Code is a supplement to SOLAS and MARPOL and provides additional requirements to address the hazards relevant to operating in polar water. The structure of the Code reflects this. Part 1, which follows a goal-based approach, contains re- quirements concerned with safety, while Part 2 addresses pollu- tion prevention measures. While the Code provides prescriptive ways of meeting these functional requirements, alternative ap- proaches are also acceptable. Although the Code's text is complete, work across the industry to prepare for 1 January 2017 continues at a quickening pace. The safety part of the Code is function-driven and provides opera- tors with a good range of flexibility, recognising there are alterna- tive design and operational approaches that can meet the func- tional requirements that already exist. "The challenge for flag administrations and classification societ- ies is how to ensure consistency of these approaches. Now the text is complete, this is an aspect we are working on, together with IACS and wider industry, to ensure we have consistent and applicable procedures before the Code comes into force," adds Hindley. Central to the Code is an assessment to set up proce- dures for operating and environmental conditions and defined hazards found in polar waters. This is directly linked to certifica- tion, as the outcome of the assessment recorded on the Polar Ship Certificate. Apart from a Polar Ship Certificate, every ship will need to carry a Polar Water Operational Manual to provide her owner, opera- tor, master and crew with sufficient information about the vessel's operational capabilities and limitations to support the decision- making process. In the first of a number of industry initiatives, LR is taking a leading role in a three-day operators' workshop in June this year with members from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Op- erators (IAATO). "The workshop aims to bring understanding of the Polar Code to our operators so that we are prepared in good time for the Code's adoption," says Dr Kim Crosbie, Executive Director of IAATO. For more information about LR and the Polar Code go to: lr.org/codes Heightened activity in the Arctic and Antarctic regions has made the Polar Code a crucial aid to vessel safety. "Of the estimated 127 icebreakers designed and built to class, 25% of the global fleet were built to LR class." — LR Senior Specialist Rob Hindley

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