Recommendation 24

It is vital that regulation of shipping evolves to meet this challenge. As a leading maritime nation and the headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation, the UK should take a leading role in negotiating a new Polar Code. We call on the UK Government to set out the steps it is taking to work with others , including businesses, to review the effectiveness of the Polar Code and how it should be strengthened to mitigate risks to safety and the environment. In particular, we ask the Government to provide us with a timeline for conducting its review of the Polar Code, alongside its assessment of whether cruise ships operating in Arctic waters should sail in pairs, and whether this should be covered in an updated version of the Code.