Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code
– Experiences after one year’s Enforcement
Finland welcomes the entry into force of the IMO Polar Code from the beginning of this year
as its enforcement enhances both shipping safety and environmental protection in its
application areas in the Arctic and Antarctic waters i.e. in both Polar regions. Finland also
considers that it is important to ensure the harmonized implementation and enforcement of
the Polar Code, wherein the IMO, the Arctic Council, the Antarctic Treaty Parties and also
the WMO have a major role to play.
“Exploring common solutions” is the slogan for the Finland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship
Programme for 2017-2019. Our message is clear- only together can we successfully
confront the challenges. And accordingly, Finland wants the public and the private sectors in
the Arctic to work together towards common goals of the Polar Code. Additionally, one of
the priorities for the Finland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship is Meteorology as Circumpolar
meteorological and oceanographic cooperation will improve public safety, benefit
international shipping and air traffic, and enhance Arctic climate science.
Ensuring reliable weather forecasts and forecasts of ice conditions is crucial for safe
navigation and planning of voyages in polar waters, thus WMO has an important role to play
in facilitating needed information for harmonized implementation of the Polar Code.
The Arctic Council PAME Working Group has established the Arctic Shipping Best Practices
Information Forum to support effective implementation of the Polar Code. Finland supports
the work of the Forum and in accordance has the honor to host an “International
Conference on Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code - Experiences after one year´s
Enforcement” on 22 February 2018 in Helsinki, Finland.
Registration is now open
International Conference on Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code
will take place at Hilton Helsinki Strand Hotel (address: John Stenbergin ranta 4, 00530
Helsinki, Finland) on 22 February 2018. The registration for the event is now open at
www.trafi.fi/en/polarcode1year. We kindly ask you to register for the conference
before 5 February 2018.
The website of the Finnish Transport Safety Agency provides also information about the
accommodation options and registration for the seated dinner on 21 February at Restaurant
Meripaviljonki (http://www.ravintolameripaviljonki.fi/?lang=en). For further information
about the event and practical arrangements, please send an e-mail to Dr. Anita Mäkinen,
Chief Advisor to the Director General of Maritime Sector (
[email protected]).
Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code
– Experiences after one year’s Enforcement
Preliminary program
Date: 21 February 2018
Venue: Restaurant Meripaviljonki
Seated Dinner to be hosted by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency
Date: 22 February 2018
Venue: Hilton Helsinki Strand Hotel, John Stenbergin ranta 4, Helsinki, Finland
Session I Introduction
9.00–9.10 Welcoming Address by Mr. Harri Pursiainen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Transport and Communication
9.10–9.30 Priorities for the Finnish Chairmanship of the Arctic Council by
Mr. Aleksi Härkönen, SAO Chair, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
9.30–10.00 Key note speaker Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary General of IMO:
Implementation of the Polar Code from the IMO perspective
10.00–10.30 Key note speaker Mr. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of WMO:
Importance of Meteorology for safe shipping in the Polar waters
10.30–11.00 Coffee Break
Session II Challenges of the Implementation of the Polar Code for Administrations
11.00–11.15 Experiences from the Russian Federation by Mr. Viktor Olersky, Deputy
Minister of Transport (tbc)
11.15–11.30 Experiences from Norway by Ms. Siv Christin Gaalaas, Specialty Director,
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
11.30–11.45 Experiences from the USA by Mr. Jeffrey G. Lantz, Director, U.S. Coast Guard
11.45-12.15 Experiences from Canada by Transport Canada (speaker tbc)
12.15-12.30 Discussion
12.30–13.30 Lunch Break
Session III Challenges of the Implementation of the Polar Code for Seafarers
13.30–13.50 Representative of an Ice-breaker Captain (tbc)
13.50–14.10 Representative of a Passenger Ship Company (tbc)
14.10–14.30 Representative of a Mercantile Fleet (Mr. Hammeken, the Royal Arctic Line
(RAL), Denmark)
14.30–15.00 Arctic Shipping Best Practices Information Forum (by PAME), introduction
15.00–15.30 Coffee Break
Session IV Identified challenges and future solutions
15.30–16.00 Launch of the Arctic Council Polar Code Project by Finland and the
Russian Federation
16.00–17.00 Discussion on identified challenges by Mr. Olersky (tbc), Mr. Lanz,
Ms. Gaalaas, Mr. Taalas, Transport Canada and Danish Maritime
Authority (tbc)
17.00–17.15 Conclusions
17.15-19.00 Reception at the conference venue, where the Minister of
Transport and Communications, Ms. Anne Berner, will
address and meet the delegates.
Related events
Finnish Maritime Academies (Aboa Mare and Satakunta University of
Applied Sciences) will introduce their relevant educational supplies and
exchange programs in winter navigation and the Polar Code requirements
at the conference venue.
Dsse
From: Trafi viestintä [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: teisipäev, 5. detsember 2017 17:04
To: Trafi viestintä <
[email protected]>
Subject: INVITATION to the International Conference on the Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code -
Experiences after one year´s Enforcement to be hold on 22 February 2018 in Helsinki, Finland
Dear Madam/Sir,
Finland welcomes the entry into force of the IMO Polar Code from the beginning of this year as
its enforcement enhances both shipping safety and environmental protection in its application
areas in the Arctic and Antarctic waters i.e. in both Polar regions. Finland also considers that it
is important to ensure the harmonized implementation and enforcement of the Polar Code,
wherein the IMO, the Arctic Council, the Antarctic Treaty Parties and also the WMO have a
major role to play.
“Exploring common solutions” is the slogan for the Finland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship
Programme for 2017-2019. Our message is clear- only together can we successfully confront
the challenges. And accordingly, Finland wants the public and the private sectors in the Arctic
to work together towards common goals of the Polar Code. Additionally, one of the priorities for
the Finland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship is Meteorology as Circumpolar meteorological and
oceanographic cooperation will improve public safety, benefit international shipping and air
traffic, and enhance Arctic climate science.
Ensuring reliable weather forecasts and forecasts of ice conditions is crucial for safe navigation
and planning of voyages in polar waters, thus WMO has an important role to play in facilitating
needed information for harmonized implementation of the Polar Code.
The Arctic Council PAME Working Group has established the Arctic Shipping Best Practices
Information Forum to support effective implementation of the Polar Code. Finland supports the
work of the Forum and in accordance has the honor to host an “International Conference on
Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code - Experiences after one year´s
Enforcement” on 22 February 2018 in Helsinki, Finland.
Registration is now open
International Conference on Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code will take place at
Hilton Helsinki Strand Hotel (address: John Stenbergin ranta 4, 00530 Helsinki, Finland) on 22
February 2018. The registration for the event is now open at www.trafi.fi/en/polarcode1year.
We kindly ask you to register for the conference before 5 February 2018.
For further information about the event and practical arrangements, please send an e-mail to Dr. Anita
Mäkinen, Chief Advisor to the Director General of Maritime Sector (
[email protected]).
On the occasion of the International Conference on Harmonized implementation of the Polar Code
The Finnish Transport Safety Agency
requests the pleasure of
Your company
at a Dinner
st
on Wednesday, 21 of February 2018 at 7.30 pm
at Restaurant Meripaviljonki
Address: Säästöpankinranta 3
RSVP required on registration form
Business suit