What is Polar Code:
In coastal areas, adding to the harsh and extreme climate, the navigational characteristics of the region make it a challenging task for ships to navigate in these areas. The Polar Code was developed by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its official name is ‘International Code of Safety of Ships in Polar Waters’. Its aim is to assist ships operating in polar waters to meet appropriate standards of maritime safety and pollution prevention.
This code comprises Parts I and II. Part I is divided into Part I-A, which includes Mandatory provisions on safeguards, and Part I-B containing recommendations for Security. Part II is divided into Part II-A, which contains mandatory provisions on pollution
prevention and Part II-B contains recommendations for the prevention of pollution.
Polar Code
Recently the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences released India’s new Arctic Policy titled ‘India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development in February 2022, which aims at scientific research, sustainable tourism, and mineral oil in the Arctic region and to promote gas exploration. India’s new Arctic policy rests on six pillars. As the melting of ice in the Arctic is not only an important indicator of climate change, but it is also affecting all countries. Polar codes operate on blocks of symbols/bits and are therefore technically a member of the block code family. The polar code signifies its role by addressing the risk present in polar waters.