SARex3, Evacuation to shore, survival and rescue

Implementation of the Polar Code: Functional Requirements Regulating Ship Operations in Polar Waters

“…105 However, the Polar Code guidelines for protective equipment 106 are vague and generic, and a variety of equipment available on the market is compliant, regardless of its usability under real conditions. 107 The SAR exercises revealed that performance criteria for certified rescue equipment did not comply with the Polar Code's requirements for survival, which state that "Resources shall be provided to support survival following abandoning ship, whether to the water, to ice or to land, for the maximum expected time of rescue". 108 In the event of an abandon-ship situation, a dry-shod evacuation to lifeboats, life rafts or onto ice or onshore is essential for survival in cold climates, and the risk of hypothermia, leading to frostbite and eventually death, if not mitigated, increases dramatically when wet.…”

“…It is determined by the body's heat loss versus heat production, and affected by cold, wet and windy climate, poor clothing, lack of shelter, low activity level, and insufficient food and water rations. 110 The new guidelines for life-saving appliances and arrangements for ships operating in polar waters point out that "Survival after abandonment will rely on several factors, such as the types and combination of equipment, crew training and good leadership of each survival craft. The expected time of rescue is a defining factor for life-saving appliances and arrangements.…”

“…111 The lack of specifications and guidelines clarifying Polar Code requirements for safe escape, evacuation and survival may contribute to the great variation seen in polar protective equipment. 112 The new guidelines for life-saving appliances and arrangements put forward descriptive requirements and specifications for emergency equipment and systems that shipowners and operators must take into consideration in the planning of polar voyages. However, the use of descriptive requirements and a non-flexible framework can turn out to be counter-effective, if compliance is achieved in a mechanical manner, with just checks and controls of predefined measures.…”

“…126 After the SAR exercises, it was suggested that a level of heat loss regarded as acceptable for the human body to maintain for the expected time to rescue and based on a predefined heat loss figure, should be defined, allowing equipment and combinations of equipment to be assessed in a transparent way. 127 The new guidelines for life-saving appliances and arrangements recommend that manufacturers provide information on additional tests, including temperature ranges for which the equipment is intended, and that this information is included in ships' operating and maintenance manuals. 128 Concerns have been raised regarding non-SOLAS vessels operating in the Arctic region, 129 as the Polar Code's safety provisions (Part I) are not applicable to these vessels, and especially with respect to fishing vessels, since they constitute the largest overall shipping presence in Arctic waters.…”

Time to Rescue for Different Paths to Survival Following a Marine Incident

“…It should be noted that the paper is based on the results of a series of search and rescue exercises conducted in the waters north of Spitzbergen, Norway from 2016 to 2018, [17][18][19][20].…”