Arctic Council came in contact with Heike Deggim, Director of IMO’s Maritime Safety Division and discussed about IMO’s interest in the Arctic region and how it engages with the Arctic Council and current projects that is working on.
During the interview, Ms. Heike Deggim noted that IMO has tend its focus on Arctic issues in order to ensure safety in shipping operations in the area and that the regulatory framework protects crewmembers and passengers, while minimize the impacts of the shipping activity on the fragile polar environment.
As Heike Deggim claimed, IMO’s Polar Code provides vital requirements for vessels operating in the harsh environment of the polar regions.
Moreover it ensures additional protection in light of existing mandatory rules concerning ship design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue and environmental protection matters. Although, IMO considers that there is still a lot of work to be done.
IMO is developing new safety measures for ships not covered by the Polar Code, such as pleasure yachts, fishing vessels and small cargo ships.
Specifically, IMO Member States have been invited through an IMO Assembly Resolution, to voluntarily install safety measures prescribed in the Polar Code on those ships.
We are also interested in broader maritime issues requiring cooperation and collaboration among many different stakeholders, such as the need for increased coverage in the region of navigational and hydrographic charts, search and rescue facilities, satellite and radio communications, port reception facilities (for receiving operational discharges) and icebreaker support.
…Heike Deggim continued.
In order to tackle the pressing issues of the Arctic, IMO attends all Arctic Council meetings and participate in its Working Groups, as it monitors the ongoing work on various aspects of polar shipping.
In light of the situation, IMO is building collaborations, such as the one with the Council’s Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Group and with the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Arctic Council Working Group.
We look forward to further work with the Arctic Council on search and rescue, pollution response and maritime safety, as well as on the protection of the marine environment. I am sure there will be many opportunities to intensify our collaboration in the coming years.
….as Heike Deggim said.
At the moment, IMO works on polar shipping matters and continues to follow the entry into force of the Polar Code.
In addition, IMO Member States will pay attention on addressing black carbon emissions from ships in the Arctic and work on extending the ban on carrying heavy fuel oil, which currently applies in Antarctic waters only.
Concluding, the 4th annual meeting of the Forum which will take place at IMO Headquarters from 11 to 12 May 2020 immediately before the next session of the Committee, will give IMO Member States the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the work of the Arctic Council.