The Norwegian Maritime Authority has announced that it has issued the first certification of a Norwegian vessel according to the Polar Code.
The NMA was one of the driving forces behind the development of the Polar Code, adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2014. November 24th marked the first issuance of a certificate as mandated by the code.
“The offshore supply vessel Stril Polar, owned and operated by Simon Møkster Shipping AS, proved to be a very suitable candidate for certification as it has been built to operate in cold conditions. Our cooperation with DNV-GL and Møkster has gone smoothly, and we will draw from this experience in futher implementation of the Polar Code,” says senior surveyor Bodil Pedersen of the NMA.
M/V Stril Polar did not require extensive upgrades, making certification less demanding, NMA says. With ice class and winterization already in place, DNV-GL facilitated the requirements regarding risk assessment of operations and equipment on board.
The NMA inspected the vessel in cooperation with DNV-GL in Aberdeen this November. With everything in order the Stril Polar was all set to be first in line for certification.
“Implementing the Polar Code for Stril Polar gives us the opportunity to operate in polar regions with assurances for the safety of ship, crew and the environment. A consequence of our successful cooperation with the NMA, DNV-GL and our insurance company is that we are motivated to certify other vessels in our fleet, “says Anne Jorunn Møkster, CEO of Simon Møkster Shipping AS.
Source & Image credit: Norwegian Maritime Authority
