IMO moves toward mandatory Polar Code

The U.N. agency says code to protect Arctic, Antarctic could enter into force in 2017.

   The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization approved environmental provisions in a draft International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters along with associated draft amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
   IMO said the action was a “key step on the way to a mandatory Polar Code for ships operating in
Arctic and Antarctic waters.”
   MEPC will consider the code and the draft amendments for adoption at its next session in May 2015. Once adopted, the Polar Code and MARPOL amendments could enter into force on Jan. 1, 2017.
   “The draft Polar Code covers the full range of design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue and environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in waters surrounding the two poles,” said IMO. “The environmental provisions add additional requirements to those already contained in MARPOL to be applied to ships operating in the polar waters. As the Antarctic area is already established as a Special Area under MARPOL Annexes I and V, with stringent restrictions on discharges, the Polar Code aims to replicate many of those provisions in the Arctic area.”