The IMO Mandatory International Code of Safety for Ships: Charting a Sustainable Course for Shipping in the Polar Regions?

• Published in: The Yearbook of Polar Law Online
• Main Author: Leary, David
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Brill 2015
• Subjects: Yearbook of Polar Law
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2211-6427_017; https://brill.com/view/journals/yplo/7/1/article-p426_17.xml; https://data.brill.com/files/journals/22116427_007_01_s017_text.pdf

Many Asian states such as China are increasingly engaged in maritime activities in the polar regions. The International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) has developed a mandatory international code of safety for certain types of ships operating in polar waters (the Polar Code) which applies to the vessels of Asian and non-Asian states alike. The Polar Code covers a wide range of issues including ship design and construction, equipment, operation, crew training, search and rescue and environmental protection relating to ships operating in the polar regions. This article examines the Polar Code, which will be implemented via amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ( SOLAS ) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships ( MARPOL ). It considers the extent to which the Polar Code lays the foundations for a sustainable future for shipping in the polar regions.