Risk Reduction as a Result of Implementation of the Functional Based IMO Polar Code in the Arctic Cruise Industry

Abstract

The IMO Polar Code states that equipment and systems providing survival support for passengers/crew should have adequate thermal protection for a minimum of 5 days. Based on participant workshops where suppliers, regulators, users and academia were present, the following three functionality requirements were identified as essential for survival: Maintaining cognitive abilities; No uncontrollable body shivering and Functionality of extremities. Following the participant workshops, a field trial was conducted in Wood Fjord, Northern Svalbard, during the last week of April 2016. The goal of the trial was to identify the gaps in functionality provided by life-saving equipment currently approved by SOLAS and the functionality required to comply with the minimum requirement of 5 days survival, according to the IMO Polar Code. The trial demonstrated that when utilizing standard SOLAS approved equipment, compliance with the functional Polar Code requirement of protection from hypothermia cannot be expected beyond 24 h of exposure.