Chapter 16 – Environmental Protection and Damage Control
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.1024(26) – Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters – (Adopted on 2 December 2009) - Annex – Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters - Part D – Environmental Protection and Damage Control - Chapter 16 – Environmental Protection and Damage Control

Chapter 16 – Environmental Protection and Damage Control

16.1 General

  16.1.1 The following provisions concerning environmental protection and damage control equipment are made with due regard to the lack of waste reception and repair facilities, communications limitations, unique navigational and environmental hazards and limited response capabilities of available assistance in polar waters.

  16.1.2 Procedures for the protection of the environment under normal operations should be included in the ship’s operating manual as described in chapter 13, and for those under accident conditions in the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP), according to MARPOL. The procedures should be tailor-made to cover the remoteness and other environmental factors particular to Antarctic and Arctic waters.

  16.1.3 Training and drills covering environmental protection and damage control procedures should be provided for crew members as specified in chapter 13.

16.2 Equipment and materials

  16.2.1 All ships navigating in polar waters should be adequately equipped and their crews properly trained to provide effective damage control and minor hull repair.

  16.2.2 All ships should have the capability to contain and clean up minor deck spills and contain minor over side spills. An inventory of such equipment should be included in the SOPEP, along with directions for safe use and guidelines to assist in determining when such use is warranted. The SOPEP should also establish personnel responsibilities for equipment deployment, oversight, maintenance and provide for crew training in equipment usage.

  16.2.3 Damage control equipment, provided in accordance with paragraph 16.2.1, should be sufficient to enable a ship, as far as is practicable, to make temporary repairs to a minor hull breach or to take precautionary measures to prevent escalation of damage or flooding, so that the ship may proceed to a location where more substantial repairs can be effected.

  16.2.4 Icebreakers and ships of Polar Classes 1 to 5 inclusive should be provided with material, tools and equipment capable of effecting more substantial repairs and damage control activities, as described in chapter 15.

  16.2.5 Hoses and flexible pipes should be manufactured out of materials retaining adequate strength and elasticity characteristics at the minimum anticipated operating temperature.

  16.2.6 All hoses used for transfer purposes from the ship to another ship or to shore should have the connection between the hose and the hose couplings made in an efficient and strong fashion to minimize the possibility of pollution due to failure of this connection. Couplings between hose sections should be capable of being securely locked together to prevent inadvertent disconnection.

16.3 Procedures for the protection of the environment under normal operations

 Procedures for the protection of the environment under normal operations should take into account any applicable national and international rules and regulations and industry best practices related to operational discharges and emissions from ships, use of heavy grade oils, strategies for ballast water management, use of anti-fouling systems, and related measures.


Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.