RS GUIDELINES ON APPLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS

These Guidelines were approved following the established approval procedure and are in force from January 2017. They were developed on the basis of the provisions of the Polar Code adopted by MSC.385(94) and MSC.264(68). The Guidelines shall be used by the class surveyors performing surveys of the vessel's compliance with the Polar Code, as well as by the ship owners and crew members to keep the vessel compliant and prepare for the class inspection.

The content is arranged in two parts. The first part gives some general information including scope of application and definitions used throughout the text of the Polar Code and of these Guidelines. The second part contains technical requirements covering the structure, subdivision and stability of the vessel, technical supervision requirements, fire protection and lifesaving arrangements on board, weather- and watertightness of the hull, communication equipment, operational assessment, shipboard machinery installations, measures for preventing pollution, safety of navigation and other important aspects up to the documentation, both operating and technical. The document shall be possessed on board any RS-classed vessel engaged in the voyages in the Polar waters.