The Arctic ice is melting at an unprecedented rate as the effects of climate change continue to dominate the weather in the region. In 1980, there was around 16,000km~3 of ice at the September minimum but by 2010, it had fallen to just 4,000km3! The record minimum of 2012 saw it fall once more to just over 3,000km~3. At this rate, there will be no ice at all in the Arctic basin by around 2018 at the September minimum, and by 2020 there may be as much as a 60 day window where there is little or no ice across the region. Putting aside the environmental implications of such a drastic occurrence, the changing climate has spurred a widening of shipping routes. Although in 2010, only four vessels transited the Northern Sea Route; in 2013 there were almost 70 ships. Whilst this is still only a small fraction of the east-west trade, it is rapidly growing and may be a significant portion by 2020 - particularly since the shorter route offers benefits including reduced fuel consumption, which subsequently means lower emissions per tonne of cargo.
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