Summary: | Many Asian states such as China are increasingly engaged in maritime activties in the polar regions. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has developed a mandatory international code of safety for certain types of ships operating in polar waters (the Polar Code) which applies to 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.
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