International Maritime Organization Polar Code U S Coast

International Maritime Organization Polar Code U. S. Coast Guard

Introduction Polar Code provides added regulations for ships in Arctic & Antarctic waters as 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) • Two parts – Safety and Environment • Safety Part – applies to cargo ships over 500 gross tons and passenger ships (more than 12 passengers) on international voyages in polar waters • Environment Part – applies to all ships in polar waters. Mandatory inspection & certification for larger ships (ships over 400 GT and tankers over 150 GT) • Risk based code to address various factors, more stringent standards are applied as level of risk increases for anticipated operations – – – Ice/Low Temperature High Latitude Remoteness from Response Resources Limited Charting Pristine Environment Figure illustrating Arctic boundary Antarctic Boundary = 60 o. S

Polar Code Applicability in Alaska

IMO Polar Code Part I: Safety General Chapter • Polar Ship Certificate • Low Temperature Testing/ Certification for exposed equipment • Operational Limitations based on risk assessment: o. Ice operations o. Low temperatures o. High latitudes Polar Water Operational Manual • May use SMS materials • Document Ship’s Capabilities & Limitations – based on risk assessment • Procedures for Normal Ops including voyage planning • Contingency Planning • Icebreaker Escort/Convey (as applicable)

IMO Polar Code Part I: Safety Ship Structure & Stability • Category A – medium first year ice or greater • Category B – Thin first year ice to medium first year ice • Category C – less than 1/10 ice concentrations • Cat. A & B – IACS PC Rules • Cat. C – Flag State approval • Ice Accretion – Intact Stability Calculations • Category A & B – Ice Damage Calculations

IMO Polar Code Part I: Safety Machinery & Fire Protection • Protection from: – ice accretion – ice ingestion, – snow accumulation – freezing of liquids • Exposed machinery foundations & propeller scantlings – IACS PC Rules Lifesaving Chapter • Escape Routes • Evacuation (Equipment) • Survival – Individual (Insulated Immersion Suits and/or Thermal Protective Aids) – Group Survival Kits – Personal Survival Kits

IMO Polar Code Part I: Safety Navigation • Receiving & Displaying Ice Conditions • Protection of underwater sensors/transducers • High Latitude – two nonmagnetic & one GNSS heading device Communications • Ships – two-way communication equip w/ Rescue Coordination Centers • Rescue boats & Lifeboats – transmitting device & onscene communications devices, including ship-shore • Other survival craft transmitting device & onscene communications device

IMO Polar Code Part I: Safety Crew Training • Familiarization training – All crew members • Ice Navigation – Basic – Advanced* • STCW Certification – Competency tables to be developed at HTW 2 (FEB 2015) * May use a person other than the crew to satisfy the advanced training requirement if the crew member being supplemented has basic training.

IMO Polar Code Part II: Environment • Requirements are in addition to MARPOL requirements (including MARPOL Antarctic Special Area requirements) o No discharge oil & oily mixtures o No discharge of noxious liquid substances (NLS) o New discharge restrictions (distance to ice considerations): § Sewage § Food waste § Cargo residues o Added tank protection for oil/oily mixtures and NLS tanks Compliance with applicable structural/equipment requirements is noted on existing MARPOL certificates.

Implementation/Future Opportunities Implementation • Standard port state control & U. S. inspection regimes • Local D 17 Policies Figure illustrating U. S. Coast Guard Enforcement Regime Future Opportunities • Uniform ice strengthening standards – Develop consistent ice measurement standards for different ice class rules • Remoteness & High Latitude – Increased MDA and Communications • Rapidly Changing & Severe Weather – Sensors & Forecasting • Ice & Low Temperatures – Ice Management & Forecasting • Limited Charting – Hydrographic Surveys & Traffic Schemes • Environment & Indigenous Culture – Input to Arctic Council, Arctic Waterways Safety Committee, Port Access Route Study

PARS Proposed Route • Unimak Pass to Chukchi Sea, w/extension towards St Lawrence Is. • 4 nm wide two-way vessel route • 8 nm circular precautionary areas 11

AIS Heat Signature of Vessel Traffic -The greatest concentration of traffic is within 150 miles of shore after the Bering Strait. -The majority of traffic entering the hub communities of Nome, Kotzebue, and Barrow are tug and barges delivering commodities. - The first high capacity cruise ship will transit the Northwest Passage this summer. 12