| Summary: | Thesis(Ph.D.) -- Istanbul Technical University, Graduate School, 2021 The effects of industrial activities have reached global dimensions over the last century. Global climate change triggered as a result of industrialization which has brought many global issues. Currently, the consequences of global climate change are observed dramatically in the polar regions. As a result, the Arctic has become more important in geopolitical and geoeconomic terms with the melting of ice and disappearance to a large extent. As the sea ice coverage has been decreasing, the number of maritime activities such as tourism, fishing, and maritime transportation increased in the Arctic Ocean. On the other hand, the Antarctic is currently subject to scientific research and activities like fishing and tourism, which increase over time as well. While the polar environment's harshness presents significant risks to the ships, maritime activities also threaten the sensitivity of polar ecosystems and marine wildlife and habitats' vulnerability. The lack of accurate charts and marine infrastructure, the harshness of the environment, the limitations of radio and satellite communications to monitor and control ship movements in polar waters are the main challenges of operations in polar regions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aimed to legalize Polar Regions' shipping measures, and the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) came into force, but there are question marks if Polar Code provides significant protection. This thesis consists of three articles on lack of Arctic and Antarctic issues in Polar Code. First one suggests the extention of the Polar Code application areas in the Arctic. While maritime activities are increasing in the Arctic, little attention is being paid to some of the northernmost regions that are greatly influenced by the Arctic climate and are excluded from the Polar Code. The marine boundaries of the Arctic region have been defined differently by the Arctic Council Working ...
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