Polar Code Basic Training

STCW Reg. V/4 basic-level training for masters, chief mates, and officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships operating in polar waters. The course covers ice navigation, ship characteristics in cold conditions, voyage planning under the Polar Code, crew protection from cold, and emergency response in remote polar environments. Advanced training is required for masters and chief mates. Training was made mandatory by the 2016 STCW amendments aligned with the Polar Code's 2017 entry into force; PSC inspectors verify certificates in Arctic and Antarctic ports.