Passage Planning in Polar Waters (Polar Code)
From 1 January 2026, amendments to the Polar Code extend mandatory voyage planning to fishing vessels, pleasure yachts and small cargo ships too: generic planning is no longer enough.
Operational Explanation
The Polar Code (International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters) is the mandatory framework, implemented through amendments to SOLAS and MARPOL, governing operational safety and pollution prevention in Arctic and Antarctic waters, characterised by extreme temperatures, ice, remote areas with limited search-and-rescue capability and a shortage of accurate hydrographic data.
Every SOLAS ship operating in defined polar waters must hold a Polar Ship Certificate and an approved Polar Water Operational Manual (PWOM), which gives the owner, manager, Master and crew the information on the ship's operational capabilities and limitations needed for decision-making.
The amendments adopted by Res. MSC.538(107) (June 2023), in force from 1° January 2026, extend mandatory navigational safety and voyage planning requirements (new Chapters 9-1 and 11-1 of Part I-A of the Code) for the first time to non-SOLAS ship categories: fishing vessels of 24 metres in length overall and above, pleasure yachts of 300 gross tonnage and above not engaged in trade, and small cargo ships between 300 and 500 GT. Newly built ships after 1° January 2026 must comply immediately; existing ships must comply by the first intermediate or renewal survey after 1° January 2027.
Regulatory Reference
Polar Code (implemented through SOLAS and MARPOL), Res. MSC.538(107) (June 2023, in force 1° January 2026): new Chapters 9-1 (Navigation Safety) and 11-1 (Voyage Planning) of Part I-A, extended to fishing vessels ≥24m, non-commercial yachts ≥300 GT and cargo ships 300-500 GT.
Scope of Application
Every ship operating in the polar waters defined by the Polar Code (Arctic and Antarctic), including from 2026 the non-SOLAS categories listed above; the Polar Ship Certificate and PWOM remain mandatory for all SOLAS ships operating in such waters.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Verify the validity of the Polar Ship Certificate and the availability on board of the approved PWOM before every entry into polar waters.
- Plan the route considering the limitations of available hydrographic information and aids to navigation in the area, integrating current information and statistics on ice extent and type and icebergs along the intended route.
- Identify available places of refuge and consider the limited search-and-rescue capability in the operating area.
- Verify the availability of two means of illumination for visual ice detection in conditions of darkness, and of suitable systems for receiving current information on ice conditions.
- Include in the voyage plan the measures to be taken in the event of encountering marine mammals and information on designated protected areas along the route.
Practical Example
Planning example: a 26-metre fishing vessel, now subject to the new requirements from 2026, incorporates into its voyage plan updated information on ice extent and type along the route, identifies available places of refuge and verifies the availability of two independent means of illumination for visual ice detection during winter darkness.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage planning in polar waters that simply reuses standard passage planning without the specific information required by the Polar Code | Failure to consider hydrographic limitations, SAR capability and area-specific ice conditions | Always integrate the specific information required by Chapters 9-1/11-1 into the polar-waters voyage plan |
| Non-SOLAS ships of the new size threshold not yet aware of the obligation from 2026 | Operating in polar waters without the now-mandatory safety requirements | Promptly check whether your ship falls within the new categories subject to the requirement from 1 January 2026 |
| PWOM not updated to reflect the ship's real operational capabilities | Unreliable information for the Master's decision-making in critical conditions | Periodically verify that the PWOM reflects the ship's real capabilities and operational limits |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Promptly check whether your ship falls within the new categories subject to the requirement from 1 January 2026, especially for fishing vessels and small cargo ships close to the size thresholds.
- Always integrate information on ice, places of refuge and SAR capability into the polar-waters voyage plan; do not simply reuse standard passage planning.
- Periodically verify that the PWOM reflects the ship's real operational capabilities, not just its configuration at the time the Polar Ship Certificate was issued.
Checklist
- Valid Polar Ship Certificate and approved PWOM available on board
- Voyage plan integrated with information on ice, icebergs and hydrographic limitations of the area
- Places of refuge identified and area SAR capability considered
- Two independent means of illumination available for visual ice detection
- Measures for encountering marine mammals and protected areas included in the plan