Safe Navigation in the U.S. Arctic: Summary of a Workshop. Held in Seattle, Washington on October 15-16, 2012.

摘要

With almost 1,000 miles of coastline bordering on the Arctic Ocean, the state of Alaska makes the United States one of five major Arctic nations.* With goals and ambitions to develop the region and its resources, the United States also has responsibilities to do so in a safe, orderly, and environmentally sound manner. High global demand for energy and minerals has led to increasing interest in the exploration and use of Arctic resources. The decreasing ice cover also spurs interest in oil and gas exploration, as well as shipping. There is widespread concern that increased interest will unleash unsafe and high-risk projects that could harm the Arctic environment and habitat. Although global warming and resulting ice pack melt are critical concerns, increased economic activity in the region is all but inevitable, and issues relating to risk management and strategic planning of Arctic operations need to be addressed.