Navigating the ice challenge

摘要

Many countries in the northern hemisphere are investigating what Arctic shipping could mean for them and how they can leverage economic advantages from it. The UK joined the fold in June when it inaugurated a House of Lords committee and invited industry experts to speak on the topic during an evidence session at the end of July. According to one of the speakers, Dr Martin Stopford, president of Clarkson Research: "Opening up Arctic routes would fill a yawning gap in the transport system. It would be extremely useful for northern economic activities." The two main route possibilities are the Northern Sea Route (NSR) above Europe and Russia and the Northwest Passage over the top of Canada. The viable season in the former is between the end of June and the beginning of November. Colin Manson, director of Manson Oceanographic Consulting (he has also represented IMarEST on the IMO Polar Code working group), commented that the NSR requires a ice-free season of at least 60 days before it becomes a viable corridor, and believes Arctic melt will make this possible by 2020. However, he opined that 100 days would be more beneficial and forecasted that for around 2025.