The article addresses the safety issues of cruise ships operating in polar regions. It discusses matters related to potential evacuation in such specific conditions. Trends in the development of life-saving appliances and regulatory requirements for safe evacuation from ships in polar regions are presented.INTRODUCTION
Since the early 1990s, there has been a growth in polar tourism.
The attractions include admiring fauna or observing polar phenomena.
Passengers use both smaller passenger vessels or icebreakers (carrying up to 500 passengers) and large cruise ships taking over 3,000 people on board. Cruise ships sail to both Arctic and Antarctic regions.
For example, according to data provided by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), approximately 16,000 cruise participants were expected in the 2009-2010 period.
Several accidents that have occurred in recent years have proven that polar tourism carries a certain risk. These are areas with difficult weather conditions (low temperatures, strong winds, polar night).
The European Parliament resolution on the management of the Arctic region recommends, among other things, actions to increase the safety of cruise ships (cit. (…)
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Source: Logistyka Magazine