Part I-A Chapter 12 Manning and Training of the Polar Code requires a ship owner to ensure that deck officers on SOLAS ships operating in polar waters have completed special training and have the necessary competence to carry out their duties as follows:
| TANKERS | PASSENGER SHIPS | OTHER SHIPS | |
| In ice-free waters | None | None | None |
| In open waters (ice concentration less than 1/10) | Certificate in basic training for master, chief mate & officers in charge of a navigational watch | Certificate in basic training for master, chief mate and officers in charge of a navigational watch | None |
| In other ice- covered waters (ice concentration more than 1/10) | Certificate in advanced training for master and chief mate & Certificate in basic training for officers in charge of a navigational watch | Certificate in advanced training for master and chief mate & Certificate in basic training for officers in charge of a navigational watch | Certificate in advanced training for master and chief mate & Certificate in basic training for officers in charge of a navigational watch |
Special polar water training requirements given in the chapter V of the STCW Code, Regulation V/4 “Mandatory minimum requirements for the training & qualifications of masters & deck officers on ships operating in the polar waters”.
- Every candidate for the certificate in basic training for the ships operating in polar waters shall have completed an approved basic training for the ships operating in polar waters & meet the standard of competence specified in the section A-V/4, paragraph 1, of the STCW Code.
- Every candidate for a certificate in the advanced training for ships plying in the polar waters shall: meet the requirements for certification in basic training for the ships operating in polar waters;
- have at least 2 months of the approved seagoing service in the deck department, at the management level or while carrying out watchkeeping duties at the operational level, within polar waters or other equivalent approved seagoing service; & have completed approved advanced training for the ships plying in the polar waters & meet the standard of competence defined in the section A-V/4, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Until 1st July 2020, seafarers who started their approved seagoing service in the polar waters prior to 1st July 2018 shall be able to establish that they meet the requirements for the basic training by:
- having completed approved seagoing service on board the ship plying in the polar waters or equivalent approved seagoing service, carried out duties in the deck department at the operational or management level, for a period of at least 3 months in total during the preceding 5 years;
- or having successfully completed the training course meeting the training instructions established by the Organization for ships plying in the polar waters.
For advanced training by:
- having completed approved seagoing service on board the ship plying in the polar waters or equivalent approved seagoing service, carried out duties in the deck department at the management level, for a period of at least 3 months in total during the preceding 5 years;
- or having successfully completed a training course meeting the training instructions established by the Organization for ships plying in the polar waters & having completed approved seagoing service on board a ship plying in the polar waters or equivalent approved seagoing service, carried out duties in the deck department at the management level, for the period of at least 2 months in total during the preceding 5 years.
