| Summary: | IMO has recently developed an International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (“Polar Code”). The goal of the Polar Code is to increase the safety of ships and protect the vulnerable environment in polar waters. However, the actual implementation of the Code and fundamental requirements are not clear. Furthermore, feasible winterization means and evacuation arrangements for cruise ships in polar waters have not been previously studied. The main goal of this thesis is to identify the fundamental requirements of the Polar Code. In addition, these fundamental requirements are used to evaluate feasible winterization means and evacuation arrangements for polar passenger ships. With better knowledge, ship owners and designers could concentrate more on the relevant safety level of the ship. Therefore, a literature review is provided for winterization need and means, and for evacuation arrangements in polar waters. Furthermore, current practices are compared with mandatory regulations, including SOLAS, LSA Code, SRtP requirement and classification society rules. Possible solutions for cruise ship winterization and evacuation arrangements in polar waters were reviewed in the literature review. These solutions are then evaluated in order to find out the most suitable solutions for cruise ships. The selected method for the suitability analysis was the Rank Order Centroid (ROC) method. During the evaluation study, it was determined that, although heating demands power, heat trace in the most important objects could provide a suitable solution in polar passenger ships. Since heat tracers in the most important doors and deck equipment reduce risks, heating is recommended to be considered. However, manual de-icing means and covers are found to be suitable for the most cases, including deck ice removal and the protection of a lifeboat davit. The evaluation study identified that current life-saving appliances are valid during summer seasons in the Arctic and the Antarctic. The study also showed that life rafts should be ...
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