Polar Code (Communications)

The communications requirements of the IMO Polar Code, which entered force 1 January 2017 under SOLAS Chapter XIV and the Polar Water Operational Manual. In high latitudes, geostationary Inmarsat coverage thins above roughly 70 to 76 degrees, so most polar waters fall in GMDSS sea area A4, where HF and recognized non-geostationary satellite services (Iridium, recognized 2018) carry distress traffic. The Polar Code requires two-way on-scene and SAR communication equipment, communication for survival craft, and consideration of magnetic-compass and GNSS limitations near the poles where convergence and ionospheric effects degrade performance.