How Does the Polar Code Affect Oil Shipment?

In December 2014, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee - the international body responsible for sea safety, approved the Polar Code and numerous amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention to safeguard people and the environment during a predicted Arctic shipping rush.

Under the new Polar Code, ships operating in polar water will be required to produce a Polar Operations Manual (POM) for every voyage, which will be submitted for approval within the flag state. The Polar Code and the changes to SOLAS which include mandatory crew training, ship design requirements, and search and rescue protocols, will come into effect in 2017.

Why are Arctic routes appealing to shipping companies?

As global warming continues to melt sea ice, Arctic routes are becoming increasingly appealing to shipping companies that not only face cost-cutting pressures, but also wish to avoid the pirate-controlled Suez Canal when sailing from Europe to China.

However, Director of the US State Department’s Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Evan Bloom has stated his concern as more people head to the Arctic for commerce, fishing and tourism reasons, explaining that it increases the likelihood of something going wrong in a region of the globe where search and rescue or environmental clean-up response is currently very minimal.

In this interview with Steve Severn, the Managing Director of Campbell Scientific, the issues encountered when installations are required in very challenging environments, such as the Arctic or Antarctic is discussed in detail.

How will the Polar Code affect oil shipment?

Ship safety and ice-strengthening as well as crew training is a pivotal requirement under the new changes, but a ban on shipping heavy crude oils has not been imposed in the Arctic. Despite having to adhere to these new changes, the Polar Code will be favoured by oil companies as industry experts predict that the Arctic region could play a major role in supplying energy globally by 2030.

While the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was adopted in 2010 to protect the Antarctic from potential heavy grade oil pollution, environmentalists have been disappointed by the recent Polar Code and amendments to SOLAS, believing that the committee have failed to address key issues to protect the Arctic in the same way.

Environmental organisations have voiced concern regarding the continued shipment of oil in the region. Simon Walmsley, WWF marine manager said, “It’s good to have a framework, but how can you guarantee that those rules are adhered to? The risk is absolutely huge. One oil spill of a decent size will knock out so much in the Arctic. If you have a heavy fuel oil spill there are no recognised methods to clean under ice or during 24 hours of darkness. There is no response.”

What next?

For more information on this topic, take a look at this story: What Are the Challenges of Drilling for Oil in the Arctic?