Polar Code:Polar Code: Past, Present & Future (?), ( )Arctic Ocean Beyond National Jurisdiction, Fairbanks Alaska

July 26, 2011Victor Santos-Pedro

Overview• Existing Measures in Arctic waters

• A tale of two vessels

• Polar Code development– Rationale, background and progress to date

• Keys to success• Keys to success

• Concluding remarks

Existing Measures in Arctic WatersExisting Measures in Arctic WatersUNCLOS Article 234

Canada Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention

RussianFederationNorthern Sea

Act Route Regime

Baltic RulesDenmark/GreenlandNavigation: Baltic RulesRules & Reporting

Wh t d th l h i ?What do these vessels have in common?

RMS TitanicRMS Titanic

B th hit i

MS Explorer

• Both hit ice.• Both sank.• Both prompted important developments in maritime safety:p p p p y

• Titanic → SOLAS• Explorer → Mandatory Polar Code

Requirements in Central Arctic Ocean

Same as for a vessel in open water elsewhereopen water elsewhere, i.e. SOLAS, MARPOL , etc.

Rationale for the Polar Code• No specific mandatory measures exist – beyond those for open water• No specific mandatory measures exist – beyond those for open water

navigation

• Polar regions present unique hazards to navigation, not least remoteness

• Projected increase in traffic – as ice extent decreases and drive for resource exploitation increasesp

• Polar waters considered to be at greater risk - recovery from environmental damage slower due to cold and ice, reliance of native peoples on sea lifepeoples on sea life

• Recommendation by the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (2009) that Arctic states “support the updating and the mandatory application of relevant parts of the Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-covered Waters”, which incorporate requirements for Polar Class ships.

Why a Polar Code?Why a Polar Code?• Polar waters pose particular challenges

th t b iti t d ith i tthat can be mitigated with appropriate measures:– Remote, with limited search and rescue

capabilitycapability– Ice, in many forms and ages– Cold temperatures

Limited infrastructure Arctic SAR sectors– Limited infrastructure• Aids to navigation• Pollution response

H i d l ill

Arctic SAR sectors

• Harmonized, common rules will provide greater protection world-wide and simplify life for designers, builders operators and regulatorsbuilders, operators and regulators.

Multi-year ice

Steps leading to a Polar CodeSteps leading to a Polar Code1993 IMO Outside Working Group formed after Helsinki meeting

1998 Requirements proposed to IMO for vessel operation in Polar waters

2002 Guidelines for ships operating in Arctic ice-covered waters published• Include provisions for construction equipment operations andG

uide

lines

• Include provisions for construction, equipment, operations and environmental protection and damage control

• Construction aspects refer to draft IACS Unified Requirements for Polar Class Ships

Orig

inal

2006 IACS Council adopts Unified Requirements

2007 World-wide distribution of images of “MS Explorer” accident and sinking

2009 Guidelines updated and expanded to cover all Polar waters (A.1024 (26))

Development of mandatory Polar Code added to IMO work plan

2010 Proposals for ice navigator competencies considered

Exp

ansi

on

2010 Proposals for ice navigator competencies considered

Discussion on mandatory requirements began

Progress to Date• Principles guiding Code development:

– Risk-based approach in determining scope– Holistic approach to mitigate risks to acceptable levels

• Development and use of an extensive Hazards and Risks list for validating risk mitigation measures

• Hazards and risks provisionally consolidated into four main p ycategories:

1. Environmental conditions (e.g. ice, temperatures)2. High latitude (e.g. remoteness, communications issues)3 E i t l iti it ( l f d )3. Environmental sensitivity (e.g. slow recovery from damage)4. Human element (e.g. specialized training and experience

requirements, physiological effects of polar conditions)

Polar Code structure and components• Structure similar to other recent IMO Codes

General, Part A (required), Part B (recommended), Part C (guidelines)

• Construction requirements established by reference to IACS• Construction requirements established by reference to IACS Unified Requirements for Polar Class Ships

• All vessels to require a Polar Ship Certificate to operate in Polar twaters

• Polar Operation Manual (Permit or Ice Certificate) to contain vessel specific guidance for crew

• Additional components, e.g. reporting, monitoring, as well as application of specific provisions still to be determined

Polar Waters

Antarctic waters Arctic waters

Unified Requirements for Polar Class ShipsUnified Requirements for Polar Class Ships

Common set of construction requirements for all IACS members (I t ti l A i ti f Cl ifi ti S i ti )(International Association of Classification Societies)

– Joint effort from class, academia, industry and researchers

– Hull design requirements are state-of-the-art scenario and mechanics based:

Design based on plastic structural behaviour– Design based on plastic structural behaviour

– Steel distributed differently

Machinery requirements have similar approach to new Baltic– Machinery requirements have similar approach to new Baltic Rules

– No power requirementsp q

Keys to successA t i i th t iti t th i k th t l i• Agreement upon provisions that mitigate the risks that a vessel is likely to encounter, including:– Harmonization of ship structure and other characteristics through

d ti f P l Cladoption of Polar Classes– Requirements for knowledgeable and experienced crew– Monitoring and enforcement

• Ability to provide current and accurate ice and weather information

• Continued development of IACS Unified Requirements based on experienceexperience

• Understanding by operators that remoteness and limitations in infrastructure mean voyages in polar waters require additional planning and preparationplanning and preparation

Concluding remarks

• Current measures do not adequately protect polar waters from shipping activities.pp g

• Coastal states have introduced own rules as a result.

• There is a need and work is underway to developThere is a need and work is underway to develop measures that are robust, harmonized, and risk-based.

• Cooperation and a concerted effort will be required to achieve the desired goal. If not adequate, the rules introduced by various Coastal states will continue.

Questions Questions –– please!please!Questions Questions –– please!please!pppp

RDIMS 6873915RDIMS 6873915