In considering appropriate thermal protective equipment
for use on ships operating in various climatic conditions, Administrations
and ship operators should take into account all of the relevant risk
factors, to include type of ship, type of survival craft, number of
persons on board, environmental conditions in the operational area,
and availability of SAR services. The purpose of these Guidelines
is to provide information to assist in the assessment of the impact
of environmental factors, and specifically water temperature on equipment
selection. In the context of the medical threat of hypothermia, the
IMO publication “A Pocket Guide to Cold Water Survival”
should be referred.