Thanks to global warming the once mythical Northwest passage is now open, and the first cruise ship is about to embark. Previously, to make the cold, wet and salty crossing from the Atlantic up and over Canada to Alaska ships would need an ice breaker.
With rapidly melting ice and rising sea levels, the passage is becoming more accessible for ships such as cruise liners, cargo vessels, oil barges and others to make their way through the Northwest Passage.
The “Strait” Trade Route
This can have major implications for global trade. The newly accessible route would cut out 4,000 miles (roughly 6,000 km) for trade between Europe and Asia.
Already, the idea of avoiding the Panama Canal and shipping “strait” over Canada for imports and exports between countries in Asia and Europe is enticing. Not to mention appealing for those (ahem the US) who want to drill for oil in the area.
Wait, who owns this new route?
The new trade route has a few debates swirling around it. Beyond an obvious environmental debate, there is a dispute over who controls this region. Canada claims sovereignty over the waters. They claim the region is part of Canadian Internal Waters. The US, and various European countries, are arguing that the waters are international. Apparently, a lot of the dispute relies on the depth of the water. If the waters are shallower they are more likely to remain in Canada’s control. The waters are still being charted (it was harder before-what with all that ice covering it up). If the waters are deeper than expected there could be more leeway for the argument the waters are international. One mining company said here that the difference they need to use the route is only 3 meters (10 feet).
The Environmental Debate
The shorter route could mean shipping companies can cut down on emissions from less milage which would mean less greenhouse gas emissions from shipping tankers. The downside is the Norwest Passage is an extremely fragile ecosystem.
Scientists such as Mark Serreze of University of Colorado’s Snow and Ice Data Center knew the route would open up eventually, “We’re several decades ahead of schedule now,” he said in this article from LiveScience. Predictions for the passage opening up to cargo boats, and cruise lines was between 2012 and 2080. However the ice blocking the passage broke sooner than later, becoming easier to cross in 2007. Making passage easier for all types of sea vessels.
Concerns about the Cruise
One company, Crystal Cruise, is taking advantage of warming temperatures and melting ice to capitalize on one of the most sought after adventure expeditions. The company is launching a route through the Northwest passage.
The cruise will begin this August. It’s journey sets sail (ok, engines) from Seward, Alaska and put in for final harbor in New York City -- taking 32 days to explore the Bering Strait, the coastline of Canada and parts of Greenland throughout the passage. If you’re looking to join, the trip is already sold out to 1,700 people at $21,855 USD per person.
Coast guard officials from Canada and the US are preparing for an increase in traffic from shipping and cruise lines already. On April 13th, coast guards in the US and Canada will begin drills covering what to do in case of oil spills, passenger rescues, etc.
Managing traffic in such icy dangerous waters will be a new challenge for both US and Canadian coast guards. Ships in the strait are over 1,000 miles from the nearest coast guard base at some points in the journey.
The cruise line is taking some precautions as well. They will have an ice pilot, helicopters, and a polar bear researcher joining the excursion. The company will also be involved in the coast guard training in April.
The Impact of the Trips
The trip could be an opportunity to educate passengers about climate change and encourage action to preserve Arctic regions. However, increased traffic from large ships seems contradictory to this idea.
Towns along the passageway have concerns about increased traffic as well. Most towns get about 100 visitors from passing ships, but 1,700 is very different.
Further, local communities raise concern about ships dumping “grey water” as they pass. Cruise ships legally dump billion of gallons of wastewater into international oceans each year. Lax laws and challenges of enforcing even those lax laws out at sea act as another obstacle to protecting the marine ecosystems cruise ships visit. This will be particularly tricky in the fragile and icy ecosystem in the Northwest Passage.
What will this all mean?
It’s going to be a tricky balance between economic benefit from tourism, and preserving livelihoods and culture for northern communities in Alaska and Canada.
Right now is the most challenging time as governments, international groups, local communities make decisions surrounding the increasing interest and ability to navigate the Northwest Passage. The regulations, made or not made, for travelling this region will affect people, climate change and trade for decades to come.
The Crystal Cruise may be the first luxury cruise ship to make this voyage in 2016, but the way the ice is melting it appears to be the first of many.
Share your thoughts and concerns on increasing travel through the Northwest Passage in the comments below.