As shipping routes expand into harsher and colder environments, industry needs help in order to navigate new challenges without compromising safety. Therefore, the classification society ABS has facilitated a Polar Code Operational Assessment in terms of the implementation of the IMO Polar Code. Specifically, the assessment identifies operational risks and limitations and was performed with TE SubCom, a TE Connectivity Ltd. company in undersea communications technology, on its cable-laying vessel, Responder.
ABS says that in order to obtain a Polar Ship Certification (PSC), vessels undergo an assessment that defines the intended operational profile and identifies relevant hazards. Understanding these variables helps owners and operators select the most appropriate risk control measures for PSC compliance. In assessing TE SubCom’s Responder, ABS carried out extensive analyses of air temperature and sea ice data for the intended operational area, establishing a foundation for the assessment that led to a more thorough understanding of the associated operational risks.
TE SubCom Vice President of Marine and Network Construction Christopher Carobene said that by pioneering the implementation of these regulations with ABS grants them a more complete picture of fleet’s preparedness for polar operations and enables them to confidently move forward with these regional projects.
