Pollution Prevention

Both the Arctic and Antarctic are individually unique. While the Antarctic is one large landmass surrounded by seas, the Arctic is more diverse, ranging from tundra to drifting pack ice. In the Arctic, plants and animals are both adapted to a stressful environment. Any disruption to this marine ecosystem is hard to overcome. The same is true for the Antarctic, where wildlife conservation is becoming more driven.

When MARPOL was signed in 1973, the focus was on the prevention of maritime pollution. This regulation covers:

• Oil and oily water
• Noxious liquid substances (NLS) in bulk
• Harmful substances carried by sea
• Pollution by sewage
• Pollution by garbage
• Prevention of air pollution

We will discuss these topics in relation to the polar regions. For further in-depth coverage, see the MARPOL 73/78 regulation. The Polar Code does not specifically contain information regarding the transport of harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form. However, there is an entry in the code as a placeholder, suggesting that further regulations may be added in the future.

To learn more about Polar Code visit our Polar Code Online Training web page.