Arctic Shipping

My professional interests are in the Alaskan marine transportation industry. Oran Young discusses some of the many marine transportation issues associated with the Northwest Passage in the chapter entitled Arctic Shipping: A Tale of Two Passages. Young focused much of this chapter on the differences that exist between the Northeast Passage maintained by Russia and the little traveled Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. The former Soviet Union expended a great deal of funding to develop the Northeast Passage. In comparison, little has been spent to develop the Northwest Passage. The book Arctic Politics was written in 1992 and it appears that the very nature of the Northwest Passage is changing. The Northwest Passage could become ice-free within the next fifty years.

The multi-year ice pack of the Arctic has shrunk more than 14% since 1980 and half of the ice present in 1950 is now gone. Shrinking of the ice pack could mean the beginning of routine shipping through the Northwest Passage. Several outside influences including the political instability of Panama and the potential cost savings associated with the route will make the passage even more attractive.

Using the Northwest Passage could save millions to dollars to worldwide shipping companies. A shipment from Europe to Asia is around 2,500 miles shorter via the Northwest Passage compared to using routing through the Panama Canal. The Northwest Passage may become a naturally created alternative to the Panama Canal.

The United States operated the Panama Canal for more than 85 years, prior to its return to the government of Panama. Most international shippers are very concerned about the future of the canal and the access it provides. Panama’s government is less secure than many people would prefer. A large amount of shipping is also classified as “post-panamax”. These ships are too large to transit the canal at all and must circumnavigate South America.

The United States and many countries consider the Northwest Passage international waters. Canada has always considered the area as internal waters and claims sovereignty over the area. There have been several well-publicized crossings made by United States ships in the last few years. The International Law of the Sea generally recognizes the treatment of ice-covered areas as different from normal waterways. Countries are allowed to protect what are perceived as very environmentally sensitive waters. Once the ice disappears, the claim of internal waters goes away with it. The current code of conduct of the Northwest Passage is voluntary. There has been much apprehension expressed by the United States government over Canada’s claim of sovereignty. It is also unlikely that Canada will be looking forward to enforcing its will on Russian, American or Japanese shipping interests using the route. Canada’s past conflicts over fishing grounds with Spain on the East Coast will seem a minor incident in comparison to this problem.

There is no doubt that an increase in shipping through the Northwest Passage will impact the people and natural resources of the Arctic. A number of new players will be added to the competition for natural resources. Conflicts over natural resource management will escalate rapidly. There is a Finnish company developing ice resistant oil tankers to operate in the Siberian Sea. There are many more eco-tourism ships plying the Arctic Ocean. Access to and mining of oil, gas and mineral deposits will improve. One can only imagine the negative influences of these activities. The discharge of tailings, oil, waste and ballast water will be difficult to regulate in this remote region. Cleanup would occur under very difficult conditions.

Russia has spent more to provide a viable shipping route for its country with the Northeast Passage. Canada and the United States have yet to make a similar commitment to the future use of the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage may make itself available for use by world shipping at little cost within the next century. When this happens, the time for effective planning will be limited. Planning for use of the Northwest Passage should begin now.

Tags: Arctic Shipping