Survival

When a situation occurs that necessitates an emergency response, such as abandoning ship, the Polar Code requires that proper equipment and appliances are available. The following are required.

• Each person on board must be provided with adequate thermal protection. To be properly prepared for this, several factors must be taken into account; the intended voyage, the anticipated weather conditions, and the potential for immersion in polar water.
• The potential of operating for long periods of time when it is dark must also be taken into consideration when determining the necessary life-saving appliances and equipment.
• The hazards discussed, such as low air temperature, ice, or wind must be taken into account when determining what resources will be needed to support survival when abandoning the ship. Whether abandoning to water, ice, or land, every option needs to be considered. The necessary resources include:
  • A habitable environment
  • Supplies that protect people from the effects of the wind, cold, and sun.
  • Space to accommodate people who are equipped with thermal protection that is adequate for the environment.
  • A means to provide sustenance.
  • Safe exit and access points.
  • The means to communicate with rescue personnel.

In order to meet these requirements, the Polar Code has the following provisions:

• All passenger ships must provide a properly fitting immersion suit or a thermal protective aid for each person on board. When an immersion suit is required, it must be an insulated immersion suit.
• When a vessel's voyage plan includes a period of travel during extended darkness, each lifeboat must have a searchlight that can operate continuously.
• Lifeboats must be, at minimum, partially enclosed. It is preferable for the lifeboat to be fully enclosed.
• Individual and group survival equipment must be provided. This includes:
  • Group survival equipment and life-saving appliances that protect all people on board against direct wind chill.
  • The proper equipment needed for each person to be able to maintain their core temperature.
  • Proper personal survival equipment to protect each individual from frostbite.
• When there is potential for abandonment onto ice or land:
  • Group survival equipment must be carried, unless the ship's normal life-saving appliances can provide adequate care.
  • Personal and group survival equipment must be carried with a 10% overage, and this equipment must be as close to the point of embarkation as safely can be stowed.
  • Containers that hold the group survival equipment must be designed in such a way that it can be easily transported over ice, as well as float in water.

Furthermore:

• Survival equipment needs to be accessible following ship abandonment.
• Survival craft and appliances carrying people must also have the capacity to carry survival equipment.
• Passengers on board a vessel must receive training that includes the use of the personal survival equipment as well as what actions must be taken in an emergency situation.
• The crew must be trained in the use of both personal and group survival equipment.
• An adequate amount of emergency rations must be provided for the maximum expected time of rescue.

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