Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters
In 2017, the The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) – a set of function-based regulations applicable to Arctic and Antarctic waters, with the goal of increasing awareness and improving safety for ship operations in polar waters – entered into force. This article exam...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cappelen Damm Akademisk NOASP
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Arctic Review on Law and Politics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arcticreview.no/index.php/arctic/article/view/2240/4332 |
| _version_ | 1811273330670436352 |
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| author | Espen Engtrø Ove Tobias Gudmestad Ove Njå |
| author_facet | Espen Engtrø Ove Tobias Gudmestad Ove Njå |
| author_sort | Espen Engtrø |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2017, the The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) – a set of function-based regulations applicable to Arctic and Antarctic waters, with the goal of increasing awareness and improving safety for ship operations in polar waters – entered into force. This article examines the Polar Code’s contribution to the establishment of new standards and guidelines, with the problem under discussion being the extent to which the function-based regulations contribute to enhancing safety for ship operations in the Arctic, given that maritime activities in these waters are associated with great risks and uncertainties. The article gives a historical review, elucidating the background leading to the development of the Polar Code, followed by a review of the structure and key principles of the regulations. Further, ship traffic in the Arctic region and those subject to the Polar Code are examined, followed by a summary of findings and experiences from three survival exercises (SARex I, II and III), performed in northern areas around Svalbard between 2016 and 2018. The article concludes that safe ship operations depend on those subject to the regulations conducting thorough operational risk assessments that cover all potential hazards, in order to mitigate sufficiently. Further, the presence of authorities is found to be crucial, with validation of the adequacy and the dimensioning of the implemented measures being of the essence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:57:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b78e1f4eda9846a4bc58dba2b6edbed7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2387-4562 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:57:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Cappelen Damm Akademisk NOASP |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic Review on Law and Politics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b78e1f4eda9846a4bc58dba2b6edbed72022-12-22T03:13:10ZengCappelen Damm Akademisk NOASPArctic Review on Law and Politics2387-45622020-08-01110476910.23865/arctic.v11.2240arctic.v11.2240Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar WatersEspen EngtrøOve Tobias GudmestadOve NjåIn 2017, the The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) – a set of function-based regulations applicable to Arctic and Antarctic waters, with the goal of increasing awareness and improving safety for ship operations in polar waters – entered into force. This article examines the Polar Code’s contribution to the establishment of new standards and guidelines, with the problem under discussion being the extent to which the function-based regulations contribute to enhancing safety for ship operations in the Arctic, given that maritime activities in these waters are associated with great risks and uncertainties. The article gives a historical review, elucidating the background leading to the development of the Polar Code, followed by a review of the structure and key principles of the regulations. Further, ship traffic in the Arctic region and those subject to the Polar Code are examined, followed by a summary of findings and experiences from three survival exercises (SARex I, II and III), performed in northern areas around Svalbard between 2016 and 2018. The article concludes that safe ship operations depend on those subject to the regulations conducting thorough operational risk assessments that cover all potential hazards, in order to mitigate sufficiently. Further, the presence of authorities is found to be crucial, with validation of the adequacy and the dimensioning of the implemented measures being of the essence.https://arcticreview.no/index.php/arctic/article/view/2240/4332arctic shippingrisk managementemergency responseregulatory governance |
| spellingShingle | Espen Engtrø Ove Tobias Gudmestad Ove Njå Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters Arctic Review on Law and Politics arctic shipping risk management emergency response regulatory governance |
| title | Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters |
| title_full | Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters |
| title_fullStr | Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters |
| title_short | Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters |
| title_sort | implementation of the polar code functional requirements regulating ship operations in polar waters |
| topic | arctic shipping risk management emergency response regulatory governance |
| url | https://arcticreview.no/index.php/arctic/article/view/2240/4332 |
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