The Poalr Code will become operational in 2017, IAA PortNews refers to Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as saying at the International Conference “Arctic shipping and shelf development: solutions to meet safety and environment challenges” being held in Saint-Petersburg within the framework of a programme dedicated to a centenary of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.
According to IMO Secretary-General, the working group is to complete its activities on the Code in early 2014. Then amendments are to be introduced into related international conventions.
According to the comment of RF Transport Minister Victor Olersky, Russia applauds IMO’s efforts to develop the Polar Code.
“Russia has an extensive experience of working in Arctic regions and we are certainly ready to share this experience under the development of the IMO Polar Code. We participate in a positive dialogue and many of our proposals within the working group are taken into account,” Olersky said.
Koji Sekimizu says the Code will consist of the mandatory and the advisory parts.
Polar Code is a mandatory instrument of IMO for ships operating in polar waters including the Northern Sea Route.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. The IMO's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.