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The International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) plays a vital role in shaping the safety standards that govern vessels worldwide. From 10 to 14 March 2026, SSE 12 convened in London to review technical proposals on life-saving appliances (LSA), fire safety, and other ship systems. Bureau Veritas has published a clear summary of the meeting’s key outcomes. While the session advanced several important LSA items, it also underscores a

When a ship must be abandoned in polar waters, the difference between life and death is often measured in days, not hours. Traditional immersion suits were designed to keep a person afloat and somewhat warm for a short time — typically just long enough to reach a life raft or be rescued quickly. But in the Arctic and Antarctic, rescue can take far longer. The International Maritime Organization’s Polar Code recognizes this reality and requires survival equipment to support li

It’s measured in minutes. When a vessel is abandoned in polar or near‑polar waters, most people assume the danger begins hours later—once hypothermia sets in. In reality, the most decisive period occurs within the first 60 minutes , long before rescue assets arrive and long before exposure becomes prolonged. Understanding what actually happens during that hour explains why most immersion suits fail—and why the Arctic 10+ was designed differently from the start.] Minute 0–5: C

Posted:  February 28, 2026 Author:  Diego Jacobson, CEO, White Glacier In late February 2026, Chile’s Maritime Authority (DIRECTEMAR) announced it will begin verifying immersion suit performance  during Port State Control (PSC) inspections in Punta Arenas — a major Antarctic gateway handling 20–30% of expedition traffic. For the first time, a flag state has signaled that Polar Code survival requirements must be met in real-world polar conditions  — not just on certification p

SOLAS/LSA suits were engineered for: Temperate to subarctic water (0–5°C) Short exposure durations  before skin temperature falls toward 10°C Controlled conditions  with no wind chill and minimal wetting Basic buoyancy and thermal delay , not endurance They were never  engineered or tested for real-world polar abandonment conditions that routinely include: Sub-zero air (−20°C or lower) High wind chill (−30°C or colder) Continuous spray + evaporative cooling Water ingress from

The White Glacier Arctic 10+  was engineered to deliver true multi-day thermal protection in the harshest polar conditions—sub-zero air temperatures, near-freezing water, high wind chill, and prolonged Maximum Expected Time of Rescue (METR) scenarios, as highlighted by the U.S. Coast Guard's December 2023 Arctic Search & Rescue simulation study. That study showed METR frequently exceeding the Polar Code's 5-day minimum in remote, ice-bound, or high-victim cases (e.g., researc

In the unforgiving polar regions, where rescue operations can stretch far beyond expectations, the IMO Polar Code sets a critical baseline for survival—but is it enough? As operators push deeper into Arctic and Antarctic waters amid climate-driven route openings, a December 2023 U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) study highlights the risks of sticking to minimum standards. This post explores the problem, the evidence, and a practical solution: the White Glacier Arctic 10+ immersion suit

Commercial fishing remains one of the world's most dangerous occupations, with cold water immersion a leading cause of fatalities far from the Arctic or Antarctic. In regions like the North Sea , Grand Banks off Newfoundland , the Bering Sea , and other North Atlantic fishing grounds, water temperatures routinely plunge below 10–15°C year-round—often dipping to near-freezing in winter. These conditions trigger rapid cold shock  (gasping, hyperventilation, and potential drowni

As of January 1, 2026, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)  has expanded the reach of the Polar Code  through amendments adopted in 2023 (Resolutions MSC.532(107)  and MSC.538(107) ). These changes mark a significant step in enhancing safety for ships operating in the harsh Arctic and Antarctic environments, now extending mandatory requirements for safety of navigation  and voyage planning  to previously unregulated non-SOLAS vessels. The Polar Code, already mandato

In an era of intensifying great-power competition, few places on Earth hold as much strategic weight as Greenland. This vast, ice-covered island—technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark but increasingly central to U.S. security interests—sits at the crossroads of the Arctic and North Atlantic. As climate change melts sea ice and opens new shipping lanes, Greenland's location has become a flashpoint for military positioning, resource access, and global influence. But defendi

Published: January 2026 The IMO Polar Code, mandatory since 2017, revolutionized polar shipping by addressing unique hazards like ice, extreme cold, remoteness, and delayed rescue. Its core survival philosophy—requiring protection from hypothermia for the Maximum Expected Time to Rescue (METR) , with a minimum of 5 days  in most scenarios—remains forward-thinking. Yet, as polar traffic surges (Northwest Passage transits up, expedition cruises booming, NSR traffic growing), th

Published: January 2026 In late August 2022, at Ergopro's specialized laboratory in Trondheim, Norway, White Glacier pushed the Arctic 10+ PC immersion suit to limits no manufacturer had publicly attempted before. The goal: simulate real polar abandonment conditions far beyond regulatory minimums—and prove the suit could keep a person not just alive, but comfortable. The test setup was unforgiving: Water temperature : 0.0 °C (freezing seawater equivalent) Air temperature : −2

In the unforgiving world of polar and offshore maritime operations, a quiet shift is underway. Insurance giants—those risk-averse behemoths behind the scenes—are increasingly nudging vessel fleets (think expedition cruise ships, superyachts, offshore rigs, and fishing vessels) to upgrade from standard immersion suits to advanced models like the White Glacier Arctic 10+ . The stakes? Billions in potential catastrophic claims from delayed rescues in remote, icy waters where sta

As Arctic shipping routes open up due to climate change, the risks for mariners in these icy waters are escalating. The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Polar Code, implemented in 2017, sets standards for ships operating in polar regions, including a minimum 5-day survival requirement for life-saving equipment. But is five days really enough? A 2023 report from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center dives into this question using advanced simul

Over the past four decades, several high-profile incidents in polar and sub-polar waters have exposed the lethal gap between regulatory minimums and actual survival requirements. Three cases, in particular, illustrate why 6-hour immersion suits have repeatedly failed crews when rescue was delayed beyond a few hours. 1. MV Explorer – Antarctic Peninsula, 23 November 2007 The “Little Red Ship” struck ice and sank in the Bransfield Strait. Water temperature: 1–2 °C. Air tempera

The Reality of Arctic Vessel Abandonment When abandoning a vessel in polar waters, survival is a race against time. The Arctic environment  introduces hazards that standard safety kits cannot fully address: Cold Shock & Swimming Failure:  Near-freezing water triggers hyperventilation and loss of motor control within minutes. Rapid Hypothermia:  Water conducts heat away 25× faster than air. Without high-CLO insulation, survival time collapses. Wind Chill & Spray Exposure:  Eve

The IMO Polar Code was established to protect lives in the world’s harshest maritime environments, where cold-water immersion can lead to hypothermia and death in minutes. Its survival provisions require operators to ensure that every person on board can withstand exposure for up to five days, even in freezing temperatures and unpredictable conditions. These requirements exist because polar emergencies—such as capsizing, flooding, or delayed rescue—often occur far from immedi

Operating in polar waters is not just a matter of choice—it’s a matter of responsibility. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Polar Code  sets mandatory safety and environmental standards for vessels navigating Arctic and Antarctic regions. These regulations are designed to protect human life, preserve fragile ecosystems, and ensure operational integrity in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Failing to comply with the Polar Code can have severe consequences.

When it comes to survival in polar waters, time is everything. Traditional immersion suits were designed to buy hours—not days—before hypothermia sets in. But the Arctic 10+ changes the game. Thanks to three patented innovations— Reflective Bubble Insulation , the Integrated Splash Tent , and the Batwing Configuration —this suit transforms from a passive flotation device into an active thermal habitat, enabling survival for five days or more  in extreme Arctic conditions. The

When Ponant set out to build the world’s first Polar Class 2 luxury cruise ship, they weren’t just chasing a dream—they were redefining what safety and sustainability mean in the most extreme environments on Earth. Le Commandant Charcot , now a benchmark in polar exploration, routinely reaches the geographic North Pole, navigates through multi-year ice, and even breaks through 18-meter ridges. But beneath its sleek design and hybrid LNG-electric propulsion lies a deeper commi