United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has just approved global binding regulations intending to enhance safety of navigation in polar areas. This means, inter alia, new requirements for passenger ships, Danish Maritime Authority said.
Following several years of intense negotiations, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) approved on Tuesday, May 20th a new set of regulations on navigation in Arctic waters.
Thus, the IMO has taken a decisive step towards making the so-called Polar Code internationally binding, DMA said. The entire palette of navigation in polar areas is covered by the Polar Code – from ship design and construction, over crew training and navigation to improved coordination of search and rescue operations. The Polar Code will apply to passenger ships and cargo ships with a gross tonnage of more than 500.