Arctic Opening: Opportunity and Risk in the High North
Clearing up in Prince William Sound after the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.
disaster in 1989 that occurred just within the 60째
report, the Arctic Council highlighted that significant
north boundary of the Arctic used by this report. The
portions of primary Arctic shipping routes do not have
resulting oil spill spread over 300 square miles, caused
adequate charts. This is most critical in the Canadian
devastation to the pristine environment of Prince
Archipelago and the Beaufort Sea, as well as in
William Sound and cost Exxon $4.3bn in clean-up and
other areas including the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and
compensatory costs 110.
East Siberian Sea along the Northern Sea Route. The problems caused by lack of charts are exacerbated by
The enhanced physical risks, together with the
the poor communications network in the region.
environmental risks, will lead to greater liability risks (and therefore potential liability costs) including
Cruise vessels present a particular challenge for
pollution and third-party death or injury. For example,
shipowners, regulators and insurers in the Arctic.
removing bunker fuel can be more challenging not
Specifically, larger cruise ships that are moved from
only because of the extreme conditions, but also
the Caribbean, Europe or Mediterranean to operate
because the heavy-duty fuel used is potentially
in the Arctic represent a genuine challenge. In the
more polluting and ships may be carrying more fuel
Canadian Arctic during the summer of 2010 the Arctic
to enable them to trade in remote locations. Also
expedition ship Clipper Adventurer grounded on a
repatriation costs for crew and passengers could be
charted reef. The challenges for passenger rescue and
much higher in the Arctic.
salvage were clear, even though this was not an icerelated incident. Clearly there is a need for protocols
A specific risk facing shipping companies is the
and strategies within the cruise ship industry to tackle
lack of charts to support safe navigation. In its 2009
the enhanced risks in the Arctic.
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