Which one of the following statements best describes the 'Polar Code'?
AIt is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
BIt is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories in the polar region.
CIt is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies in the North Pole and South Pole.
DIt is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council.
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
Answer: A. The POLAR CODE is the International Code of Safety for Ships Operating in Polar Waters.
The POLAR CODE is a mandatory International Maritime Organization (IMO) instrument that entered into force on 1 January 2017. It covers the full range of shipping-related matters relevant to navigation in waters surrounding the two poles — Arctic and Antarctic.
Key features:
- Covers ship DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, OPERATIONAL CONCERNS, TRAINING, SEARCH AND RESCUE.
- Applies to passenger and cargo ships.
- Implemented through amendments to SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and MARPOL (Marine Pollution) conventions.
- Addresses cold temperatures, ice, remoteness, lack of crew experience, communication challenges.
- Includes environmental protection rules (operational discharge prohibitions in polar waters).
Distractors:
(B) Wrong — no such territorial demarcation agreement exists as 'Polar Code'. Arctic territorial issues are governed by UNCLOS and bilateral agreements.
(C) Wrong — research conduct in Antarctica is governed by the ANTARCTIC TREATY SYSTEM (1959) and the Madrid Protocol (1991), not the Polar Code.
(D) Wrong — the Arctic Council is a forum, not a trade/security bloc. The Polar Code is an IMO maritime safety instrument, not an Arctic Council agreement.
Source: International Maritime Organization (IMO) Polar Code 2017 / SOLAS amendments.
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