Seafarers take a break in Kalundborg I Kalundborg slapper søfolk af 3 10
Portrait of Ocean Prawns Portræt af Ocean Prawns
WAVES
No. 2 • 2025 • Vol. 12
Published by:
The Danish Mission to Seafares Havnegade 41A, 7100 Vejle, Denmark Tlf. +45 3393 2543 www.somandsmissionen.dk
Executive Editor: General secretary, Nicolaj Wibe
Editor:
Hanne Baltzer, tlf. +45 - 2288 4496
Mail: hab@somandsmissionen.dk
Print run: 4000
Waves is printed on eco-friendly paper. The next issue of Waves will be published on August 20.
Yearly subscription: 200 Dkr.
Layout and print:
Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S
Cover:
Filipino sailors relaxing at the Seafarers Club in Kalundborg.
The Danish Mission to Seafarers seeks to create relationships, services, and security in the maritime world through social work, personal encounters and a high degree of professionalism.
Relation worker, Relationsmedarbejder på de danske søfartsskoler
Phone: +45 2897 1460 hp@somandsmissionen.dk
Sømandsmissionen i Kalundborg
The Mission to Seafarers in Kalundborg
Editha og Jens Chr. Seeberg phone: +45 5950 1332
GREENLAND/GRØNLAND
Karsten Hald Jacobsen
Phone: +299 27 60 10
khj@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Aasiaat
Henriette Killerich Mikkelsen
Phone: +299 25 22 94
henriette@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Sisimiut
Niels Chemnitz
Phone: +299 28 40 83
niels@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Nuuk
Rebekka Kofoed
Phone +299 22 39 74
rebekka@hotelsoma.gl
Harbor/havn: Ilulissat
By Hanne Baltzer
Company Profile Fishing Globally – Thinking Locally
Ocean Prawns is one of the world's largest suppliers of MSC-certified shrimp and halibut. Annually, they catch around 22-24,000 tons of shrimp and 2,200 tons of halibut.
With 40 years of experience fishing in the Arctic Ocean, Kristian Barslund from the Danish island Bornholm knows his trade. Together with his son Daniel Barslund, who is also the CEO of the company that currently counts 750 employees, they tell the story of a life’s work build through thoroughness, professionalism, and a nose for business. Today, they have eight ships in the fleet, and their vision is to develop and to optimize fishing, in order to pave the way for local investments. Kristian Barslund is the working chairman of the board and is still involved in the daily operations where he applies his vast experience and knowledge of distant fishing. "Besides fishing, we have 15 companies on Bornholm. Some of them we call heart investments, made possible by our fishing profits. We want to invest in the island, which is part of our DNA," says Daniel Barslund. The company’s headquarters are in Nexø, where much can be handled over the phone and via online meetings. They
both have great trust in their employees, and it is a clear advantage that both father and son have worked at sea.
Entrepreneur by heart
It was Kristian Barslund who established the family-business back in the 70s. Before that, he had been fishing salmon for several years. In 1976, he partnered with Birger Pedersen, who already had experience a lot with shrimp fishing, and together they were some of the first to take on offshore shrimp fishing in Greenland. It was a success, and soon they could invest in more vessels. The two fishermen complemented each other well, taking turns being on land and at sea. In the 80s and 90s, they increasingly focused on shrimp fishing in Canada in collaboration with the Canadian companies Newfound Trading Ltd., Clearwater Seafoods Inc., Harbour Grace Shrimp Co. Ltd., as well as Pikalujak Fisheries Ltd. They entered into several partnerships to ensure the necessary quotas.
"The equipment has changed a lot since then. If we had had the equipment we have today when we started fishing, only the sky would have been the limit, and the earnings would have been much higher. Today, the equipment and the trawler only have value if you have enough quotas," says Kristian Barslund.
In 1997, Birger suddenly died on the maiden voyage of the ship Ocean Tiger. Kristian continued as the sole owner for several years until the time came for a new generation to step in.
Today, Ocean Prawns primarily focuses on fishing in Canada and the Barents Sea. That is their main source of income now. They continue to fish in Greenland with Ocean Tiger, which still has a Greenlandic crew of 5-8 people who all have been employed for a long time. The owners are satisfied with this and hope for good cooperation with Greenland for many years to come. Generally, most of the fishing is made possible
through joint ventures with partners in Canada, France, Estonia, and Lithuania. China and Japan are the largest buyers of shrimp.
A sustainable business
Ocean Prawns wants to be a frontrunner in sustainability. Daniel Barslund elaborates: "We don't just have an economic bottom line to consider, but also an environmental and social one. This means we must fish sustainably so that there is enough shrimp
for the coming generations. We do not want to exploit nature. In Canada, we now fish with a trawler that leaves a smaller CO2 footprint, and we have gone from two to one trawler, optimized on all parameters, and using less fuel. We ensure a high utilization rate, and our trawl equipment meets all certification requirements. All of my father's knowledge and the latest robotic equipment are put into that trawler." He believes that customers demand certified products. It's all about the license to operate. Ocean Prawns has MSC certification on 85 percent of their fishing. Through the MSC collaboration, Ocean Prawns is committed to documenting that their fishing is done as gently as possible. The company is also working to reduce the amount of by-catch.
Quotas
Kristian Barslund is fully aware that obtaining quotas is crucial to their business: "After 30-35 years on the Canadian trawlers
and 46 years in the industry we generally have a good reputation. In Canada, we are not allowed to own rights, so we have Canadian partners that we depend on. Obtaining sufficient quotas in Greenland has always been a bit challenging due to the trade-off between duty-free status and fishing rights." Daniel explains: "In the long run, it will become more and more difficult to maintain economically sustainable fishing in Greenland. Sailing under the Danish flag is expensive and requires that we have enough quotas to turn a profit. Currently, we do not have enough quotas, and we do not have the opportunity to trade for more."
Work Environment
For Ocean Prawns, it is crucial to think about safety. The company never has any work injuries.
"We have more safety than the legally required safety equipment. We used to test survival suits from Viking, and since then we have always used their equipment. We also have custom made survival suits that you can wear while working. No one works on deck
Virksomhedsportræt
Fisker globalt – tænker lokalt
Ocean Prawns er en af verdens største leverandører af MSC-mærkede rejer og hellefisk. Årligt fanger de omkring ca. 22-24.000 ton rejer og 2.200 ton hellefisk
Med 40 års erfaring i at fiske i det arktiske hav ved Kristian Barslund fra Nexø på Bornholm, hvad den forretning drejer sig om. Han og sønnen Daniel Barslund, som er administrerende direktør i virksomheden, der tæller 750 medarbejdere, fortæller om et livsværk, som passes med rettidig omhu, professionalisme og næse for forretning. De har otte skibe i flåden nu. Det handler om at udvikle og optimere fiskeriet, som derved baner vej for lokale investeringer. Kristian Barslund er arbejdende bestyrelsesformand og er stadig med sin store erfa-
ring og viden om fjernfiskeri med i den daglige drift.
”Udover fiskeriet har vi 15 virksomheder på Bornholm. En del af dem kalder vi hjerteinvesteringer, som er blevet mulige fra overskuddet på fiskeriet. Vi vil gerne investere i øen, der er en del af vores DNA. I Vandkantsdanmark,” siger Daniel Barslund. Hovedkontoret ligger i Nexø, hvorfra meget kan løses i telefonen og på onlinemøder. De har en stor tiltro til deres medarbejdere. Desuden er det en klar fordel, at både far og søn har sejlet.
Iværksætter
Det var Kristian Barslund, der etablerede den familiedrevne virksomhed tilbage i 70'erne. Forud var gået laksefiskeri fra 1964 og nogle år frem. I 1976 blev han kompagnon med Birger Pedersen, som allerede havde erfaring med rejefiskeri. De begyndte udenskærs fiskeri af rejer ved Grønland som nogle af de første. Det blev en succes, og de kunne investere i flere både. Mændene supplerede hinanden godt, og de skiftedes til at være i land og til havs. I 80’erne og 90’erne satsede de i stigende grad på reje-
without helmets, lines, etc. The helmets also have built-in communication systems, which is another safety measure." "The crew asks about the internet connection before they ask about the salary. Therefore, we make it a priority. On the new trawler, robots perform all the heavy lifting. We care deeply about creating a healthy work environment, and we always encourage the crew to maintain good physical shape. Several have access to fitness," says Daniel Barslund. In his time in Greenland, Kristian remembers that they often visited the seamen's home in Sisimiut:
"Manager Hans Grønkjær did a lot for us. For example, he gave us a chance to call our families. It was great."
Challenges
When asked what the biggest challenge is right now, Daniel points to the many requirements for GDPR, ESG, CSR, etc., which lead to extra administrative work in order to operate in the market – lots of rules for both the fleet and the crew depending on the flag you carry. In the future, he imagines that some of the operations can be optimized by using AI
fiskeri i Canada i samarbejde med de canadiske selskaber Newfound Trading Ltd, Clearwater Seafoods Inc, Harbour Grace Shrimp Co Ltd samt Pikalujak Fisheries Ltd. De indgik flere samarbejder med andre, idet kvoter var og er altafgørende.
”Det med udstyr har ændret sig. Havde vi haft det udstyr, som vi har i dag, da vi begyndte fiskeriet, var træerne vokset ind i himlen, og indtjeningen havde været noget højere. I dag er udstyret og trawleren kun noget værd, hvis du har kvoter at fiske,” mener Kristian Barslund.
I 1997 døde Birger pludseligt ombord på jomfruturen med skibet Ocean Tiger. Kristian fortsatte som eneejer i en årrække, indtil et generationsskifte blev gennemført.
I dag koncentrerer Ocean Prawns sig primært om at fiske ved Canada og Barentshavet. Der er den vigtigste indtjening nu. Der fiskes stadig ved Grønland med Ocean Tiger, der fortsat har grønlandsk mandskab (5-8 personer), som efterhånden har været ansat længe. Det er ejerne tilfredse med, og de håber på et godt samarbejde med Grønland mange år frem i tiden.
(artificial intelligence). This applies, for ex-ample, to the collection and use of data. Other challenges include replacing markets that are no longer accessible, such as Russia, and getting qualified young people to join the company. There are plenty of challenges to deal with. Last year, the biggest challenge was getting the company’s new trawler, Atlantic Enterprise, to be fully operational. The process ended up being delayed 11 months. The late delivery also meant that the company lacked a trawler to help reach their quotas. •
Both Kristian and Daniel Barslund work hard to get their share of the quotas. No quotas, no business. Currently, they had hoped for a larger quota in West Greenland: "We have fished in Greenlandic waters for over 40 years and have helped develop shrimp fishing in the region. Therefore, it is unsatisfactory that it has not been possible to expand the EU's access to shrimp."
Både Kristian og Daniel Barslund går målrettet efter at få del i de kvoter, der må fiskes. Uden kvoter ingen virksomhed. De håbede på en større kvote ved Vestgrønland: ”Vi har fisket i grønlandsk farvand i over 40 år og har været med til at udvikle rejefiskeriet. Det er derfor utilfredsstillende, at det ikke er lykkedes at udvide EU’s adgang til rejer."
Størstedelen af fiskeriet drives gennem joint ventures med partnere i Canada, Frankrig, Estland og Litauen. Kina og Japan er de største aftagere af rejerne.
Bæredygtig virksomhed
Ocean Prawns vil gerne være en bæredygtig frontløber. Daniel Barslund uddyber: ”Vi har ikke blot en økonomisk bundlinje at tage hensyn til, men også en miljømæssig og en social. Det betyder, at vi skal fiske bæredygtigt, så der er rejer til de næste generationer. Vi vil ikke drive rovdrift på natu-
Today, Ocean Tiger often visits Sisimiut, and the local missionary from the seamen's home comes on board. "It's okay to have a church service on board. It's up to those on board to decide if they want to participate,” Daniel Barslund says.
I dag besøger Ocean Tiger ofte Sisimiut, og sømandsmissionær Henriette Mikkelsen fra sømandshjemmet kommer ombord. ”Det er ok, at der holdes en andagt ombord. Det er dem, der er ombord, der bestemmer. Det vurderer de,” siger Daniel Barslund.
ren. Ved Canada fisker vi nu med en trawler, der efterlader et mindre CO2 aftryk, og vi er gået fra to til en trawler, der er optimeret på alle parametre, og som bruger mindre brændstof. Der er en høj udnyttelsesgrad og trawludstyr, som følger certificeringens krav. Al fars viden og det nyeste robotudstyr er puttet i den trawler.”
Daniel Barslund mener, mener, at kunderne efterspørger certificerede produkter. Det handler om license to operate. Ocean Prawns har MSC-certificering på 85 procent af deres fiskeri. Gennem MSC-samarbejdet er Ocean Prawns forpligtet til at dokumentere, at fiskeriet sker så skånsomt som muligt. Firmaet arbejder desuden på at reducere bifangst.
Kvoter
Kristian Barslund er fuldstændig bevidst om, at kvoterne er det vigtigste for forretningen: ”Vi har generelt et godt ry efter 30-35 år på de canadiske trawlere og 46 år i branchen. I
Canada må vi ikke eje rettigheder, så der har vi canadiske partnere, vi er helt afhængige af. Og som anbefaler os. At opnå tilstrækkelige kvoter ved Grønland har altid været lidt udfordrende grundet byttet mellem toldfrihed og fiskerettigheder.”
Daniel forklarer: ”På sigt bliver det mere og mere svært at drive økonomisk bæredygtigt fiskeri ved Grønland. At sejle under dansk flag er dyrt og kræver, at vi har kvoter nok til en indtjening. Vi har ikke nok kvoter i dag, og vi har ikke mulighed for at handle os til flere.”
Arbejdsmiljø
For Ocean Prawns er det afgørende at tænke i sikkerhed. Arbejdsskader har de ingen af.
”Vi har mere sikkerhed end det lovbefalede sikkerhedsudstyr. Siden vi testede overlevelsesdragter fra Viking, har vi altid brugt deres udstyr. Vi fik også specialfremstillede overlevelsesdragter, som man kan arbejde i. Ingen arbejder på dækket uden hjelme, liner mm. I hjelmene er der nu også samtalekommunikation. Det er endnu et sikkerhedstiltag.”
”Mandskabet spørger om internet, før de spørger til lønnen. Derfor prioriterer vi det. På den nye trawler fx foretager robotter alle de tunge løft. Vi tænker i sundhed og arbejdsmiljø, og vil gerne opfordre mandskabet til at
bibeholde en god fysisk form. Flere har adgang til fitness,” siger Daniel Barslund.
I sin tid i Grønland husker Kristian, at de kom meget på sømandshjemmet i Sisimiut: ”Bestyrer Hans Grønkjær gjorde meget for os. For eksempel måtte vi ringe hjem på skift. Det var stort.” I
Udfordringer
På spørgsmålet om, hvad er den største udfordring lige nu, svarer Daniel uden at blinke, at det er de mange krav til GDPR, ESG, CSR osv. Masser af ekstra administration for at kunne agere i markedet. Masser af regler for både flåde og mandskab afhængig af under hvilket flag, man sejler. I fremtiden forestiller han sig, at noget af driften kan optimeres ved at bruge AI (kunstig intelligens). Det gælder for eksempel ved indsamling og brug af data.
Derudover kommer andre udfordringer som at erstatte markeder, der er taget ud af indtjeningen, fx Rusland og at få kvalificerede unge ind i fiskeriet. Der er nok at tage fat på. Sidste år var den største udfordring at få den nye trawler, Atlantic Enterprise, fuldt funktionsdygtig. Den endte med at blive 11 måneder forsinket. Den sene levering betød også, at virksomheden manglede en trawler til at fiske dens kvoter. •
Skagen Harbor remains Denmark's largest fishing port
The Danish Fisheries Agency reveal that 60 percent of all landed fish in Denmark is landed in Skagen.
Source – Maritime Denmark
Skagen Havn er fortsat
Danmarks største fiskerihavn
60 procent af den samlede mængde landede fisk i Danmark landes i Skagen. Det viser nye tal fra Fiskeristyrelsen.
Kilde – Maritime Danmark
Green performance
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published their annual "Flag State Performance Table." Here, Denmark stands out as one of only fourteen flag states out of a total of 123 that have green indicators for all the criteria used in the assessment. The table shows the extent to which flag states comply with international maritime agreements, rules, and regulations. The criteria used to compile the ICS's Flag State Performance Table include ratification of relevant international conventions, white- and blacklists of port state control, the average age of the fleet, IMO member states' audits, and many other factors.
Grøn performance
In addition to Denmark, the countries with a perfect score in the table are France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Liberia, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands.
Source: Danish Shipping
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) har offentliggjort deres årlige ”Flag State Performance Table”. Danmark er en af kun fjorten flagstater ud af i alt 123, der har grønne indikatorer for alle de kriterier, der anvendes i opgørelsen. Tabellen viser, i hvilket omfang flagstaterne overholder internationale søfartsaftaler, -regler og -bestemmelser. De kriterier, der anvendes til at udarbejde ICS’s Flag State Performance Table, omfatter ratificering af relevante internationale konventioner, hvid- og sortlister over havnestatskontrol, flådens lave gennemsnitsalder, IMO-medlemsstaternes revision og meget mere.
Udover Danmark er de 13 andre lande med en perfekt score i tabellen Frankrig, Tyskland, Grækenland, Hong Kong (Kina), Japan, Liberia, Malta, Marshalløerne, Norge, Singapore, Storbritannien, Bahamas og Caymanøerne. Kilde: Danske Rederier
It's always a pleasure when seafarers stop by to visit Bethel (A welfare-ship owned by The Danish Mission to Seafarers). Here, there is always time for pleasant and honest conversations.
Det er altid dejligt at få besøg af søfolk ombord på Bethel, der er Sømandsmissionens skib. Der var tid til hyggelig snak om meget forskelligt.
Faith matters to seafarers
Faith in God plays a crucial role for many seafarers in managing their lives at sea. However, the topic of religion is often perceived as rather private and is therefore left out in the conversation on board, even though it can be an open window in getting closer to the people around you. If we only dare to share our faith and our convictions, there is so much new that we can learn about each other. Be curious.
Tro har stor betydning for søfarende
Troen på Gud er for mange søfarende en stor hjælp til at håndtere livet til søs, men samtidig er religion meget personligt og noget, der i vid udstrækning ikke italesættes ombord, selvom den kan være et åbent vindue til at komme tættere på hinanden. Der er så meget nyt, man kan lære om hinanden, og om hinandens kulturer, hvis den enkelte føler sig tryg og tør fortælle om sin tro eller overbevisning. Vær nysgerrig.
By general secretary Nicolaj Wibe
Be careful what you read
I have a good friend who was once on a business trip somewhere in Asia. Everything went well. Everyone showed up as agreed, and step by step the trip unfolded without hindrance. But then, as the journey was almost over, things went wrong. On the plane home, his stomach started to rumble. In Amsterdam Airport, where he was supposed to change flights, he got so sick that he couldn’t continue the journey. Instead, he spent half the day in the restroom and the rest of the day in the airport's emergency room. The cause of his illness was simple; on the last evening of his trip, he had eaten a tiny bit of fish that wasn't fresh. It takes only a single bite for the effect to be significant. This mechanism applies not only to our stomachs, but to life in general. A smile or a helping hand from one of our co-workers can save our day. A simple text message from a loved one saying, 'I miss you,' can make you forget the challenges of your journey.
An ocean of change
I would like to help you absorb the Bible in small bites. It is a heavy book, but it works wonders if you just take it in slowly. The Bible –which is God's word – contains something very special. Just a few words from it can create a whole new perspective on your day, your life, or a difficult situation. One sentence from that book can bring forth an ocean of new life in your heart and soul. In the Danish Mission to Seafarers, we know a seafarer who experienced a personal encounter with Jesus just by reading a single line from the Bible. How
could that happen? The reason is that God's word, written in the Bible, is alive. God's word is active – often in a way that we don't notice. His words often behave like seeds that are planted in the ground. They sprout, grow, and develop in secret. And then, as Jesus describes it himself, they eventually bear fruit.
An approach to reading
The Bible uses various illustrations to describe the many qualities of God’s word. One passage describes the word of God as 'the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.' Another place calls it a double-edged sword. Jesus himself speaks very little when great things are about to happen. 'Get up,' he says to a paralyzed man. 'Receive your sight,' he says to a blind man.
I recently had an experience where a sentence in the Bible so stirred something new in me. Without searching for anything specific, I read the following verse: 'For with God, all things are possible.' Oh, how happy it made me! The words came to me in a situation that felt quite impossible for me to overcome. Therefore, I would also like to encourage you to take your Bible or find it on your phone. Read until there is a sentence that speaks to you and your situation directly. It will happen quickly. Now, stay there; copy or write down the sentence; read it again, and again. Read it three or four days in a row. That sentence can be God's word to you, giving you exactly what you needed.
Pas på, hvad du læser
Jeg har en god ven, der var på arbejdsrejse et sted i Asien. Alt gik godt. Alle mødte frem som aftalt, og det ene flueben blev sat efter det andet. Men så gik det galt. I flyet på vej hjem begyndte hans mave at rumle. I Amsterdam Lufthavn, hvor han skulle skifte fly, kom han ikke med videre. Han brugte den halve dag på toilettet og resten af dagen i lufthavnens stue for akut syge. Årsagen var, at han den sidste aften på sin rejse havde spist en lille bitte smule fra en fisk, der ikke var frisk. Der skal så lidt til, før effekten er stor. Det gælder ikke bare det, vi putter i vores mave, men i det hele taget. Et smil eller en hjælpende hånd fra en af de andre i besætningen kan redde din dag. En sms fra en ven/ægtefælle/barn, der bare ville sige: ’savner dig’, kan få dig til at glemme den ensformige sejlads.
Et ocean af forandring
Jeg vil gerne gøre reklame for Bibelen i små bidder. Det er en tung bog på mange hundrede sider, men den virker bedst, hvis man kun tager en lille bitte smule fra den ved hvert besøg.
Bibelen – som er Guds ord – kan noget helt særligt. Ganske få ord fra den kan skabe et helt nyt perspektiv på din dag, dit liv eller
en fastlåst situation. Få ord fra den bog kan skabe et ocean af nyt liv i dit indre.
I Sømandsmissionen kender vi en sømand, som fik et personligt møde med Jesus ved at læse en enkelt lille sætning fra Bibelen. Hvordan kunne det ske? Årsagen er, at Guds ord, teksterne i Bibelen, er sprællevende. Guds ord er skabende. Ofte på en måde, hvor man ikke opdager det. De opfører sig tit som korn, der bliver lagt i jorden. De spirer, gror og vokser i det skjulte. Og så kan de til sidst bære skøn frugt – for nu at bruge et billede, Jesus selv bruger.
Ideer til at læse
Der bruges mange illustrationer i Bibelen til at beskrive de egenskaber, ord fra Gud har. Et sted står der, at Guds ord er som ’frelsens hjelm og Åndens sværd’. Et andet sted kaldes det et tveægget sværd. Jesus selv bruger få ord, når store ting skal ske. ’Rejs dig’, siger han til en lam. ’Bliv seende’, siger han til en blind.
Personligt har jeg lige haft en oplevelse, hvor en sætning i Bibelen skabte noget stort i mig. Helt tilfældigt læste jeg: ’For Gud er al-
Reading in the bathroom
I will end my reflection where I started it – in a restroom. Recently, a friend told me that there was a Christian happening going on in his street – good music, coffee, and an invitation to come and talk. However, he didn't have time to participate. As he passed by, someone handed him a flyer. Being in a hurry, he simply stuck it in his back pocket and moved on. Several days later, while in the bathroom, he found the note. He took it, read it, and then the same thing happened to him that happened to the seafarer mentioned earlier; a word from God changed something fundamental in his life. Don't hesitate to find a Bible. Take a small 'bite' of it and see what happens. Something good and important is waiting for you, because God always reveals his love for us through his words. •
ting muligt’. Åh hvor blev jeg glad, for jeg stod med noget, som jeg selv oplevede umuligt.
Jeg vil gerne opfordre dig til at tage din bibel eller finde den på din telefon. Du læser, indtil der er en sætning, der siger dig noget særligt. Det kommer hurtigt til at ske. Bliv så der. Kopier eller skriv sætningen ned. Læs den igen. Og igen. Læs den 3-4 dage i træk. Den sætning kan være det Guds ord til dig, som skaber lige det, du har brug for.
Bid på toilettet
Jeg begyndte med et toilet og vil også slutte der. En ven fortæller, at der ude på gaden var en kristen happening i gang. God musik og invitation til en snak med kaffe. Det havde han ikke tid til. Han fik en seddel stukket i hånden, stak den i baglommen og gik videre. Flere dage senere sidder han på toilet og ser sedlen stikke op af baglommen. Han tager den, læser den og så sker det samme for ham som for sømanden. Et ord fra Gud ændrede noget vigtigt i hans liv.
Tøv ikke med at finde en bibel frem. Tag en lille ’bid’ af den, og se, hvad der sker. Noget godt og vigtigt venter på dig, for Gud viser os sin kærlighed igennem sine ord. •
Easter eggs for everyone
The Danish Mission to Seafarers is currently handing out thousands of Easter eggs to seafarers, along with a greeting that shares the Christian Easter Gospel. Volunteers help wrap the many eggs, which allows the missionaries to focus on making deliveries and talking to the seafarers – with time, compassion and faith.
Easter communicates the belief that the death and resurrection of Jesus has given all people the gift of salvation and eternal life – without asking for anything in return. All we can do is invite Jesus into our lives as our personal savior.
Påskeæg uddelt
Sømandsmissionen deler tusindvis af påskeæg ud – tilsat en hilsen om, hvorfor vi fejrer påske. Frivillige er med til at pakke de mange æg, hvilket er en stor hjælp, så sømandsmissionærerne kan koncentrere sig om at aflevere dem og ikke mindst møde søfolkene. Med tid, hjerte og tro. Påsken symboliserer troen på, at Jesu død og opstandelse giver alle mennesker mulighed for frelse og evigt liv. Uden at skulle præstere. Det er påskegaven fra Gud.
Tattoos are about identity
The word “tattoo” was first used by James Cook, who in an account of a journey to Tahiti in the years 1768-71 described the local tribe’s way of decorating their bodies, which they called “tattow”.
Throughout the 20th century, tattoos have been highly associated with maritime culture – but although seafarers used to be the ones who travelled the world and brought back tattoos to Scandinavia, the phenomenon has now become an integrated part of many people’s personal expression. Seafarers are no longer the only ones who get tattooed.
Tatovering er identitet
Ordet tatovering har den vestlige verden fået af James Cook, som i sin beretning om en ekspedition til Tahiti i årene 1768-71 beskrev den lokale befolknings kropsudsmykning, som de kaldte tattow. Tatoveringer er i en stor del af de to sidste århundreder forbundet med søens folk, men fra at sømænd rejste rundt og opdagede fremmede folkeslag og kulturer og bragte tatoveringer til Skandinavien, er tatoveringer i dag blevet en fast del af manges måde at udtrykke sig på. Det er ikke længere kun søfarende, som får en tatovering.
By Hanne Baltzer
Where Seafarers Relax
Kalundborg Seafarers Club is an active part of the town’s Maritime Museum. This means that the museum’s visitors also get a chance to meet seafarers from all over the world as they enjoy a break in the club. Also, former seafarers from the maritime associations can stop by and speak to seafarers from all over the world.
Here in the old Methodist church, which closed years ago, the atmosphere is filled with maritime history mixed with the sounds of various maritime communication equipment, including Navtex, which currently warns of a northern storm. The church also echoes the origins of the Danish Mission to Seafarers in Kalundborg. From here, in 1996, Editha and Jens Cristian Seeberg began a major volunteer effort to serve all seafarers on the local harbor. Today, Kalundborg has Denmark's second-largest commercial port with five kilometers of continuous quay.
The dedicated couple is still hard at work. They used to invite seafarers to their private home because there was no Seafarers Club. Over the past 25 years, about 500 seafarers have sat around their dining table. Now, the location has changed, but their commitment and great hospitality remain the same.
Hospitable gesture
Editha and Jens have access to both the container and tank terminals. Here, they often visit the ships, and they have a strong cooperation with the other actors at the port. They often receive calls or Face book requests asking when crew members can visit the Seafarers Club. Jens typically picks up the seafarers at the port around 7 pm and takes them shopping before they settle around the long table with the blue anchor-decorated tablecloth. Editha makes
sure the coffee is ready. She is from the Philippines, so she speaks Tagalog, which many Filipino seafarers appreciate. Filipino culture is known for its great hospitality, and back home she learned that everyone is welcome, even those who show up unannounced: "It also says in the Bible that we should be hospitable and take care of those in need. That's basically what we try to do," she smiles.
"We want to help. One day, a Filipino mate told us that his ship's Navtex had broken down. The Belarusian captain didn't
think they could afford a repair. I asked if I could try in exchange for a cup of coffee. I managed to identify the problem, and soon their Navtex was up and running, which is quite essential since it receives crucial warnings about storms and navigation," says Jens, who has spent most of his career dealing with advanced radio- and telecommunications.
Music, atmosphere, and relaxation
The club’s maritime community contains a unique atmosphere. When the seafarers
Af Hanne Baltzer
Her slapper søfolk af
Kalundborg Seafarers Club er en aktiv del af Kalundborg Søfartsmuseum. Det betyder, at museumsgæsterne kan møde søfolk, der nyder en pause i de hyggelige lokaler, og ældre søfolk fra marineforeningerne kan komme forbi og måske træffe søfolk fra hele verden.
Her i den gamle Metodistkirke, der blev nedlagt for år tilbage, emmer det af atmosfære og søfartshistorie afbrudt af lyde fra forskelligt maritimt radiokommunikationsudstyr, blandt andet Navtex, der varsler storm mod nord. Kirken rummer også den historiske start for Sømandsmissionen i Kalundborg tilbage i 1996 med en kaffestue i baglokalet, da Editha og Jens Christian Seeberg gik ombord i en stor frivillig indsats for at betjene søfolk. Kalundborg har Danmarks andenstørste erhvervshavn med fem kilometer løbende kaj.
Det engagerede ægtepar er stadig i ar-
Editha og Jens Christian Seeberg
look around, they see an entire exhibition of maritime relics, paintings, and various technical equipment from, for example, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service. The visitors can even try a ship simulator if they want. That the simulator provides a realistic picture of reality became clear when one of the guests got seasick from the simulation – a true lesson in life at sea!
Most seafarers just come to the club to relax for a few hours because they feel at home in the maritime surroundings. They
bejdstøjet. Tidligere inviterede de søfolk hjem privat, fordi der ikke var en Seafares Club. Godt 500 søfolk har siddet omkring deres private spisebord de sidste 25 år. Nu er lokationen skiftet, men engagementet og lysten til at vise gæstfrihed er den samme.
Gæstfri gestus
Både Editha og Jens har ID-kort til både container- og tank-terminalerne. Her går de ofte på skibsbesøg, og de har ligeledes et godt samarbejde med de andre blå aktører på havnen. De bliver tit ringet op og spurgt, om besætninger kan besøge Seafares Club eller Editha bliver kontaktet via facebook. Jens afhenter typisk søfolkene på havnen omkring kl. 19, og tager dem med på indkøb, inden de slår sig ned omkring langbordet med den blå ankerdekorerede voksdug. Editha har brygget kaffen og sat frem til gæsterne. Hun er fra Filippinerne, så hun kan tagalog, hvilket mange filippinske søfolk har haft glæde af. I filippinsk kultur er de kendt med stor gæstfrihed, og hjemmefra lærte
"Most seafarers just come to the club to relax for a few hours because they feel at home in the maritime surroundings. They hang out in the lounge area playing games, reading books, or using the club’s musical instruments."
hang out in the lounge area playing games, reading books, or using the club’s musical instruments. The former Methodist pastor has donated various musical instruments to the club for the seafarers to use, and when a skilled seafarer sees a guitar, it usually doesn't take long before song and music fills the room. In one of the drawers are also
free maritime souvenirs that seafarers can take with them, as well as Bibles and the latest edition of WAVES.
Most of the funds for furnishing and equipment have been provided by the ITF in London, Y’s Men, and the Danish Mission to Seafarers. •
hun, at alle var velkomne, også de der kom uanmeldt: ”Der står også i Biblen, at vi skal være gæstfrie og tage os af dem, der har hjælp behov. Det er det, vi prøver at gøre,” smiler hun.
”Vi vil gerne hjælpe til. En dag havde vi en filippinsk styrmand, som fortalte, at skibets Navtex var i stykker. Den hviderussiske kaptajn mente ikke, der var råd til at få den repareret. Jeg spurgte, om jeg måtte forsøge mod, at han serverede en kop kaffe. Det måtte jeg, og snart fungerede deres Navtex igen, hvilket er ret essentielt, når den netop får varsler om både storm og vigtig navigation,” fortæller Jens, der det meste af sit arbejdsliv har beskæftiget sig med avanceret radio- og telekommunikation.
Musik, hygge og afslapning
Det maritime fællesskab i de hyggelige lokaler kan noget, og når søfolkene kigger sig omkring, ser de skiftende udstillinger med søfartsklenodier, malerier og forskelligt teknisk udstyr fra fx Forsvarets Efterretningstje-
neste. De kan også gå ind og prøve en skibssimulator, hvis det er det, de vil. At skibssimulatoren giver et realistisk billede af virkeligheden, stod klart, da en af gæsterne blev søsyg i simulatoren! Et læringsmiljø for alle sanser.
De fleste søfolk sænker bare skuldrene og slapper af i nogle timer, fordi de føler sig hjemme i de maritime rammer. Det kan de også fint gøre i hyggehjørnet med spil, bøger og musikinstrumenter, der ikke ligger til pynt, men meget gerne må benyttes. Den tidligere metodistpræst Karen Anette har foræret blokfløjter, banjoer og guitarer, som nu tilbydes musikalske søfolk. Når en sømand ser en guitar, går der ikke lang tid, før sang og musik fylder miljøet. I skufferne i kommoden ligger også gratis søfartssouvenirs, som søfolkene må tage med, ligesom der er bibler og magasinet WAVES.
Midlerne til indretning og udstyr har klub og museum blandt andet fået fra ITF i London, Y’s Men og Sømandsmissionen. •
FACTS
• The Fehmarn Tunnel will be 18 kilometers long. It contains a two-lane motorway in each direction and two electrified railway tracks. It will take 10 minutes to drive through the tunnel by car and 7 minutes by train. The tunnel will make it possible to travel between Hamburg and Copenhagen by train in under three hours.
• The tunnel consists of 79 elements, each 217 meters long, and 10 special elements including a basement floor for operation- and maintenance equipment. A standard element weighs 73,000 tons.
The arrow points to the world's longest immersed tunnel
- Ships connect the construction process
By Hanne Baltzer
With words like craftsmanship, will, grandeur, vision, and something that will last for generations, the Arrow – a 217-meter-long elevated ramp – was recently inaugurated in Rødby Harbor in southern Denmark. The Arrow makes it possible for visitors to get closer to the construction of the 18-kilometer-long Fehmarn Belt Tunnel – the world's longest immersed tunnel, which will be a new transport corridor between Denmark and the rest of Europe. It will connect Rødby Harbor with the island of Fehmarn in northern Germany.
The Arrow is built right next to the beginning of the tunnel on the Danish side and ends 24 meters above the surrounding landscape. Walking up the ramp, you are met by a magnificent view of the construction site, the tunnel factory, and the surrounding area. It is expected that many tourists will take the trip to the Arrow, where there is also a visitor’s center informing visitors about the construction project.
Ships Have a Central Role
Many different types of construction vessels help create the tunnel. First, a trench is created for the 89 tunnel elements. Each tunnel element is 217 meters long. Four tugboats tow the tunnel elements. The excavated material is transported on barges from the work areas to the new land reclamation areas. Additionally, a number of smaller vessels, such as tugboats, survey launchers, multicats, and crew vessels, are expected to sail between the construction harbors and the work areas.
The construction work for the establishment of the Fehmarn connection will take place at sea, in a large factory in the local town, and at the local industrial harbor. The building materials for the tunnel elements are shipped to the factory, and the finished tunnel elements are then towed out into the Fehmarn Belt where they will be immersed into the trench.
Affecting maritime traffic
The construction work at sea began in July 2021 and is expected to last until 2027. By then, the usual navigation conditions will be restored. Naturally, the maritime traffic will be affected during the process.
The many work areas are marked with special marking buoys. The locations of the buoys are published on the government’s official channels for nautical information. Notices to Mariners, NAVTEX, and VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) continuously inform ships in the area about all changes in navigation conditions. All ships are advised to ensure that their charts are updated when approaching the area. All ships entering the VTS Fehmarn Belt area are requested to report it on VHF CHANNEL 68.
An assisting tugboat will be available around the clock within the VTS area. Additionally, all work areas are monitored by guard ships. •
The chairman of the Vocational Schools’ Student Organization, Mads Haugbølle Behrendsen, at the inauguration of the Arrow: "The Arrow is built by apprentices. It is a symbol of vision and ambition; of proper craftsmanship created with hands, knowledge, and will."
Formanden for Erhvervsskolernes Elevorganisation Mads Haugbølle Behrendsen ved indvielsen af Pilen: "Pilen er bygget af lærlinge. Den er et symbol på udsyn og ambitioner. På det ordentlige håndværk skabt med hænder, viden og vilje."
Pilen peger mod verdens længste sænketunnel -
skibe binder byggeprocessen sammen
Med ord som håndværk, vilje, storhed, udsyn og noget der kommer til at bestå i generationer, blev Pilen – en 217 meter lang rampe indviet for nylig i Rødbyhavn. Med Pilen kan man komme tættere på byggeriet af den 18 kilometer lange Femern Bælt-tunnel - verdens længste sænketunnel, der skal være en ny transportkorridor mellem Danmark og resten af Europa. Den vil forbinde Rødbyhavn på Lolland med øen Fehmern i Tyskland.
Pilen er bygget tæt på det sted, hvor tunnelen begynder på dansk side og slutter i en spids 24 meter over det omgivende landskab. Derfra har man en storslået udsigt over byggepladsen, tunnelfabrikken og området omkring. Forventningen er da også, at mange turister vil tage turen til Pilen, hvor der også ligger et informationscenter om byggeprojektet i nærheden.
Skibe har central opgave
Masser af forskellige typer af anlægsfartøjer hjælper til med at skabe tunnelen.
Først udgraves en tunnelrende, hvor de
89 tunnelelementer efterfølgende placeres. Hvert tunnelelement er 217 meter langt. Fire slæbebåde bugserer tunnelelementerne. Det udgravede materiale transporteres på pramme fra arbejdsområderne til de nye landvindingsområder. Derudover forventes et antal mindre fartøjer fx slæbebåde, survey launches, multicats og crew wessels at sejle mellem anlægshavnene og arbejdsområderne.
Anlægsarbejderne til etableringen af Femern-forbindelsen kommer til at foregå til søs og på en stor fabrik i Rødbyhavn og i den tilstødende arbejdshavn. Byggematerialerne til fremstillingen af tunnelelementerne sejles til fabrikken, og de færdige tunnelelementer slæbes ud i Femern Bælt til efterfølgende nedsænkning i tunnelrenden.
Skibstrafik påvirket
Anlægsarbejderne til søs startede i juli 2021 og forventes at vare indtil 2027. Til den tid bliver de nuværende navigationsforhold genoprettet. Skibstrafikken vil naturligvis være påvirket undervejs.
The contractor consortium Femern Link Contractors (FLC) and Femern Belt Contractors (FBC) are responsible for the construction of the tunnel. The factory construction site at Rødby Harbor is the largest of its kind in Europe.
Entreprenørkonsortiet Femern Link Contractors, FLC står sammen med Femarn Belt Contractors (FBC) for opførelsen af tunnelen. Fabriksbyggepladsen ved Rødbyhavn er Europas største.
De mange arbejdsområder markeres med specielle markeringsbøjer. Placeringerne offentliggøres på myndighedernes officielle kanaler for nautisk information. Efterretninger for Søfarende, NAVTEX og VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) informerer således skibene i området om samtlige ændringer i navigationsforholdene. Alle skibe rådes til at sikre sig, at deres søkort er opdaterede, når de nærmer sig området. Alle skibe, som sejler ind i VTS Fehmarnbelt-området, bedes rapportere det på VHF KANAL 68.
En assisterende slæbebåd vil døgnet rundt være til rådighed inden for VTS-området. Desuden overvåges alle arbejdsområder af vagtskibe. •
• Femern-tunnelen bliver 18 kilometer lang. Den indeholder en tosporet motorvej i hver retning og to elektrificerede jernbanespor. Det vil tage 10 minutter at køre gennem tunnelen i bil og 7 minutter i tog. Det vil være muligt at rejse mellem Hamborg og København i tog på under tre timer.
• Tunnelen består af 79 elementer på hver 217 meter og 10 specialelementer med en kælderetage til brug for udstyr til tunnelens drift- og vedligeholdelse. Et standardelement vejer 73.000 tons.
Kilde: Femern.dk
FAKTA
Af Hanne Baltzer
Foto: Femern
By Hanne Baltzer
Once a Seafarer always a seafarer - 46 Years of experience
Portrait
Bent Povlsen has always preferred working at sea, and he has done so for the past 46 years, only interrupted by a short period of factory work, which he quickly grew tired of. The sea is where he feels at home, and he has sailed over most of the world except Greenland and Australia. Bent always accepts an extra hire. Bent was only 16 years old when he left his childhood home in the countryside in central Jutland: "I am the youngest of four siblings. Since I was a boy, I have wanted to sail around the world. I am the first seafarer in my family. I didn't want to be a farmer," he says with a smile. He started his career as a deck boy, sailing for eight months, then as a cook's mate with the Danish Asiatic Company on board a tanker in the Far East, and later he joined various coasters. He grew tired of cooking but not of sailing. Therefore, at the age of 25, he found hire as an unskilled worker on international Maersk container ships, and later he transferred to smaller ships in Europe and shorter trips in Nordic waters. He continuously took the courses he needed. Today, Bent sails as a
mate on smaller ships. He has, among other things, a certificate of proficiency in operating smaller commercial vessels. "For me, sailing is clearly a lifestyle. I work a lot, even though I have had my struggles along the way, including illness. But I feel at home on board. What else would I do?", Bent asks.
Colleagues – A second family
Bent is the father of two adult children and has two grandchildren whom he sees occasionally. Over the years, he has missed out on many birthdays and other parties, which he believes is simply a necessary evil for all seafarers. However, he has promised to be home when his mother turns 100 in January. She will be celebrated in style.
At home, Bent lives only 50 meters from the water's edge. He thrives in his own company, and his best friends are former colleagues at sea: "I met my best friend on one of the first ships I worked on. We see each other occasionally. In my experience, my colleagues become a kind of family because they are the ones I spend most of my
time with. I have been married a couple of times, but it never worked out for me."
Enjoying solitude
"As a seafarer, it is important to thrive in your own company. After having worked a whole shift with your colleagues, you need to be alone. That's how many of us feel. Then you go to your cabin to wind down. Personally, I enjoy reading a book or listening to an audiobook, preferably on topics of history and politics." Bent adds that of course the crew also engages in social activities occasionally.
"Especially the young are often challenged by the working conditions at sea; the fact that you only have your colleagues around and may not always be able to go online. But I never feel lonely. I like being on board with colleagues my own age because the tone is very direct. If something is not okay, you always hear it directly. We might not give each other much praise, but at least we are honest and straight forward. I like that. That doesn’t mean you can’t be kind and helpful to the younger colleagues," he says. •
Shipping forms the backbone of the essential supply chains that transport more than 80 percent of the world's goods and support the global energy system. Shipping is Denmark's largest export industry.
Skibsfart udgør rygraden i de essentielle forsyningskæder, der transporterer mere end 80 procent af verdens varer og understøtter det globale energisystem.
Skibsfart er Danmarks største eksportindustri.
Bent Povlsen
Portræt
En gang sømand – altid sømand - nu med 46 års erfaring
Bent Povlsen kan allerbedst lide at arbejde til søs. Det har han gjort de seneste 46 år, kun afbrudt af en kort periode med fabriksarbejde, som han hurtigt blev træt af. Nej, ombord på et skib føler han sig hjemme. Han har sejlet over det meste af verden undtaget Grønland og Australien. Og han tager gerne en ekstra hyre.
Han var 16 år, da han forlod barndomshjemmet på landet ved Kjellerup i Midtjylland: ”Jeg er den yngste af fire søskende. Siden jeg var en lillebitte dreng, har jeg haft lyst til at sejle ud og se verden. Jeg er den første sømand i familien. Jeg ville ikke være landmand,” fortæller han med et skævt smil. Han begyndte til søs som dæksdreng med at sejle otte måneder, så koksmat hos ØK, hvor tankskibet sejlede i Fjernøsten og siden på coastere som kok. Han blev træt af at lave mad, men ikke af at sejle. Derfor fik han som 25-årig hyre som ubefaren skibsassistent med Maersk-containerskibe i internationalt farvand. Og senere endnu med mindre skibe i Europa og endelig kortere ture i nordisk farvand. Løbende tog han de kurser, han fik brug for. Nu sejler han som
”For mig er det helt klart en livsstil at sejle. Jeg arbejder en del, selv om jeg undervejs også har haft mit at slås med, bl.a. sygdom. Men jeg har hjemme ombord. Hvad skulle jeg ellers lave.”
styrmand på mindre skibe. Han har blandt andet duelighedsbevis til at kunne føre mindre erhvervsfartøjer.
”For mig er det helt klart en livsstil at sejle. Jeg arbejder en del, selv om jeg undervejs også har haft mit at slås med, bl.a. sygdom. Men jeg har hjemme ombord. Hvad skulle jeg ellers lave,” spørger Bent retorisk.
Kollegerne – en slags familie
Bent er far til to voksne børn og har også et par børnebørn, som han ser af og til. I årenes løb er han gået glip af en del fødselsdagsfejringer og andre fester, hvilket, han mener, er et vilkår som sømand. Når hans friske mor til januar fylder 100 år, har han dog lovet at være hjemme i Danmark. Da skal hun fejres med maner.
Selv bor han 50 meter fra vandkanten på Fyn. Han trives i sit eget selskab, og hans bedste venner er tidligere kolleger til søs: ”Min bedste ven er ham, jeg sejlede med på et af de første skibe, jeg arbejdede på. Vi ses engang i mellem. I det daglige bliver kollegerne en slags familie, fordi det er dem, jeg tilbringer det meste af tiden med.
Jeg har prøvet et par ægteskaber, men det fungerer ikke for mig.”
Trives i eget selskab
”Som sømand er det nu også vigtigt at kunne trives i sit eget selskab. For når man har været på arbejde en hel vagt med kollegerne og får fri, så har man været social nok og har brug for at være alene. Sådan er vi en del, der har det. Så går man på sit kammer for at drosle ned. Og jeg nyder at læse en bog eller høre en lydbog. Allerhelst indenfor emnerne historie og politik.” Bent tilføjer, at besætningen også kan være sammen om sociale aktiviteter en gang imellem.
”De unge kan være udfordrede af arbejdsvilkårene. At man primært har kollegerne og måske ikke kan være online. Selv føler jeg mig aldrig ensom. Jeg kan godt lide at være ombord med jævnaldrende kolleger, fordi jargonen er direkte. Man skal nok få at vide, hvis noget ikke er ok. Der er så heller ikke meget ros, men vi kalder en spade for en spade. Det kan jeg godt lide. Derfor kan man jo godt prøve at være lidt sød overfor de yngre kolleger,” siger han. •
The melting of the Arctic could lead to shorter trade routes
"The Arctic Ocean is a completely new sea that is opening up as the ice disappears," says Ph.D. student Lin Alexandra Mortensgaard to Videnskab.dk. She researches international politics in the Arctic at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) and the University of Copenhagen. There are three trade routes in the Arctic Ocean: the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage (including the Northern Sea Route), and the Transpolar Sea Route – a hypothetical route, as it is not ice-free today.
The Arctic routes are not used all year, as the region is frozen part of the year, but since 2007, both the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route (Northeast Passage) have been temporarily ice-free in
the summer. However, ice-free conditions have yet to be seen on the Transpolar Sea Route.
According to Alexandra Mortensgaard, the trade routes are interesting for 3 reasons: economic opportunities, strategic control, and their influence on international maritime law. Therefore, the big question is where the ice will melt and when large icebreakers will no longer be needed to navigate the routes.
Although the sea routes depend on many factors, increased activity in the Arctic is already being observed as the ice begins to melt: According to the Arctic Council, Arctic shipping traffic has increased by 37 percent from 2013 to 2023.
Afsmeltningen af Arktis kan betyde kortere handelsruter
”Det Arktiske Ocean er et helt nyt hav, der åbner sig, i takt med at isen forsvinder,” fortæller ph.d.-studerende Lin Alexandra Mortensgaard til Videnskab.dk.
Hun forsker i international politik i Arktis ved Dansk Institut for Internationale Studier (DIIS) og Københavns Universitet. Man taler om tre handelsruter i Ishavet: Nordvestpassagen, Nordøstpassagen (herunder Nordsøruten) og den transpolare sørute - en hypotetisk rute, da den i dag ikke har isfri forhold.
De arktiske ruter bruges ikke hele året, eftersom regionen er frosset til en del af året, men siden 2007 har både Nordvestpassagen og Nordsøruten (Nordøstpassa-
gen) været midlertidigt isfrie om sommeren. Til gengæld har man fortsat til gode at se isfri forhold ved den transpolare sørute.
Ifølge forskeren er handelsruterne især interessante af tre årsager: Økonomiske muligheder, strategisk kontrol og ved at udfordre international havret. Derfor er det store spørgsmål, hvor isen vil smelte, og hvornår man ikke længere skal bruge store isbrydere for at komme gennem ruterne. Selvom søruterne afhænger af mange faktorer, ser man allerede nu øget aktivitet i Arktis i takt med, at isen er begyndt at smelte: Skibstrafikken i Arktis er steget 37 procent fra 2013 til 2023, ifølge Arktisk Råd.
