Safety first for new Polar Code

John Flaherty and Tom Gorrard-Smith, of Clyde & Co, report on the impending Polar Code to regulate Arctic shipping activity

After further continued growth in 2013 of the number of vessels operating in the Arctic and with more activity expected this year, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has announced its draft text of the mandatory International Code for Ships Operating in Polar waters (the Polar Code) has been agreed. With the Russian government having relaxed its laws governing offshore hydrocarbon production and, as of January 2014, formally recognising third party joint venture companies may act as operators, increased commercial activity in its offshore waters is now anticipated.