MSC.538(107)-AmendmentstothePolarCode

MSC 107/20/Add.1Annex 8,page 1ANNEX 8RESOLUTION MSC.538(107)(adopted on 8 June 2023)AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FORSHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS(POLAR CODE)THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEERECALLING Article 28(b)of the Convention on the International Maritime Organizationconcerning the functions of the Committee,NOTING resolution MSC.385(94),by which it adopted the safety-related provisions of theIntroduction,and the whole of parts I-A and I-B of the International Code for Ships Operatingin Polar Waters ("the Polar Code")which became mandatory under chapter XIV of theInternational Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,1974("the Convention"),NOTING ALSO article VIll(b)and regulation XIV/1.1.1 of the Convention conceming theprocedure for amending the safety-related provisions of the introduction and part I-A of thePolar Code.NOTING FURTHER regulation XIV/1.1.2 of the Convention concerning the procedure foramending part I-B of the Polar Code,RECOGNIZING the need to introduce safety measures for non-SOLAS ships operating in polarwaters,HAVING CONSIDERED,at its 107th session,amendments to the Polar Code proposed andcirculated in accordance with article VIll(b)(i)of the Convention,ADOPTS,in accordance with article VIll(b)(iv)of the Convention,amendments topart I-A of the Polar Code,the text of which is set out in annex 1 to the present resolution;2ALSO ADOPTS,in accordance with regulation XIV/1.1.2 of the Convention,amendments to part I-B of the Polar Code,the text of which is set out in annex 2 to the presentresolution;3DETERMINES,in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb)of the Convention,that theamendments to part I-A of the Polar Code shall be deemed to have been acceptedon 1 July 2025,unless,prior to that date,more than one third of the Contracting Governmentsto the Convention or Contracting Governments the combined merchant fleets of whichconstitute not less than 50%of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant fleet,have notifiedtheir objections to the amendments;INVITES Contracting Govemments to the Convention to note that,in accordance witharticle Vlll(b)(vii)(2)of the Convention,said amendments shall enter into forceon 1 January 2026 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 3 above;5ALSO INVITES Contracting Governments to the Convention to note that theamendments to part I-B of the Polar Code will take effect on 1 January 2026 upon entry intoforce of the amendments to part I-A of the Code set out in annex 1.I:MSC107MSC 107/20/Add.1.docx