Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
E U O I A Northern Sea Route N O R A T H M E R I C A S R U S Overall,Arcticshippingwillbesubjecttonewlegal regulationssuchastheIMOPolarCode,withmandatoryrequirementsforshipdesign,construction, equipment,operating,training,safetyandresponse, andenvironmentalmeasures.8 R Trans-ArcticshippingviatheNWPiscurrentlynot viable,astheCanadianArcticArchipelagoisoneof thelastpartsoftheregiontostillhavesignifcant icecongestioninthesummer.Inaddition,warming conditionsoftenallowicebergsfromthemostnorthernlatitudestobesweptdowntoNorthwestPassage routes.Seasonalvariability,routecomplexity,depth restrictions,lackofadequatecharts,limitedinfrastructure,highoperatingcostsforicebreakerescorts, andhighinsuranceratesalsoinhibitNWPuse.7 E Currentlytrans-ArcticshippingoccursviatheNSR fromlatesummertoearlyautumnandrequirestransitfeesandRussianicebreakerescort.Beginningin 2009withtwovessels,NSRtraffcdoubledtofour vesselsin2010 ransporting110,000tonsofcargoto —t China—i ncludinggascondensatefromRussiaand ironorefromNorway.5In2011,thenumberleapedto 34NorthernSeaRoutevoyages,carryingmorethan 820,000tonsofcargoinafve-monthperiod.6 P Trans-Arctic shipping is concentrated within the NorthernSeaRoute(NSR),a2,600-nauticalmileroute alongRussian'snorthernborder,andtheNorthwest Passage (NWP), which consists of multiple routes throughtheCanadianArcticIslandsfromBaffnBay totheBeaufortSea.4 Northwest Passage other parts of the Arctic. For example, a number of companies have licenses to explore off Greenland lthoughexploratorywellsfailedtodiscover —a hydrocarbonreservesinGreenlandwatersin2011.11 Elsewhere, several companies have leases to drill near Tuktoyuktuk, Canada, where oil production isexpectedtobeginby2025.12Strategiccooperative agreementshavebeendevelopedbetweenRussian andWesterncompaniestojointlydevelopRussia's ArcticoilfeldsnearSiberiaandinthe arentsSea, B Offshore Oil and Gas Anestimated90billionbarrelsofoil,1,670trillion cubicfeetofnaturalgas,and44billionbarrelsof naturalgasliquidslienorthoftheArcticCircle. Thesereservescompriseroughly13percentofthe world'sundiscoveredoil,30percentofundiscoverednaturalgas,and20percentofundiscovered naturalgasliquids.9 Offshoreoilandgasexplorationismovingforward intheU.S.Arctic.MorethanonecompanyhasArcticoffshoreleasesintheChukchiandBeaufortseas, witheventualproductionanticipatedtobe500,000 barrelsperday.10 More Arctic leases are expected in U.S.watersasanationalstrategytopromoteenergy exploration, development, and conservation proposestomakefurtheroffshoreareasavailable. Internationally,severalmajoroilcompaniesare involved in offshore exploration and drilling in www.uscg.mil/proceedings The Arctic holds signifcant offshore oil and gas reserves. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Offcer Sara Francis. Summer 2013 Proceedings 11