The US Coast Guard has proposed a rule that would add a new Polar Ship Certificate to the list of existing certificates required to be carried on board all US and foreign-flagged vessels that are subject to the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and which are operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters, (generally above 60 degrees north latitude and below 60 degrees south latitude lines) reports Swedish Club.
The USCG also proposes to add this certificate to the list of SOLAS certificates that recognized classification societies are authorized to issue on behalf of the Coast Guard.
The proposed rule would apply to commercial cargo ships and to passenger ships that are undertaking an international voyage, with the former’s qualifier being a weight greater than 500 gt, while for the latter the rule will apply if the vessel is carrying more than 12 passengers.
Comments and related materials on this proposal must be submitted on or before December 22, 2016.
http://www.swedishclub.com/media_upload/files/Member%20Alerts/009_16_4-28-2016.pdf