Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) has described the procedure for obtaining of Polar Ship Certificates, IAA PortNews correspondent reports from the seminar held in the framework of the 14th International Maritime Exhibition and Conference of Russia which opened in Saint-Petersburg on 19 September 2017.
As Vitaly Odegov, Senior Expert of Hull Structure and Fitting Department, told IAA PortNews, ship owners (operators) looking into deployment of their ships in polar waters should use the Polar Code and RS Guidelines for Application of the Polar Code Provisions to assess on their own the compliance of such ships to expected conditions of operation. If any non-compliance is revealed, the ships should undergo the required retrofitting.
Then, ship owners should develop a Polar Water Operational Manual. Thus document will contain guidelines, procedures and recommendations on safe navigation in polar waters.
After that, ship owners apply to RF for certification.
Upon obtaining of an application, RS inspector is to perform a survey onboard the ship to confirm the compliance of the ship structure, equipment and pollution prevention procedure with the Polar Code requirements.
Polar Code (International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters) is an IMO instrument, intended to boost safe navigation in polar areas. The Code shall enter into force on 1 January 2017 with transition period until 2018, which covers all issues related to designing and operation of ice class ships. Developed with the RS specialists’ direct involvement.
Related links:
RS presents Guidelines on Application of Polar Code >>>>
RS issues the first Polar Ship Certificate >>>>