Over 1,700 Ships Crossed Arctic Last Year
The number of ships that entered the Arctic Polar Code, part of the Arctic Ocean, reached 1,782 last year, up 35% since 2013. This will increase for two reasons. First, the Arctic ice is melting quickly, making transit more realistic. The other is the geopolitical threats to Suez Cana traffic and drought issues with the Panama Canal.
Heat Records –Look At April
Weather News –The Future Of Hurricanes
According to The Arctic Council Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), “Comparing 2013 to 2023, the distance sailed by ships in the Arctic Polar Code Area increased 111%, from 6.1 million to 12.9 million nautical miles.” The number shows that more and more shipping companies view the area as a viable option for the two canals much further south.
Ice Melts
A study in PNAS confirms that the Arctic route has potential positive financial consequences. “With ice cover in retreat, Arctic routes for destination shipping present a plausible alternative to the Suez Canal. Whether by the Northern Sea Route, the Northwest Passage, or the Transpolar Route, Arctic routes are 30 to 50% shorter than the Suez or Panama Canals, with transit time reduced by 14 to 20 d assuming the same sailing speed.”
As is the case when portions of the planet that have not been open to commerce become part of the commercial world, the environment will be damaged. If history is any lesson, most companies involved will not care.
