Arctic shipping – a comparison study of northern sea route and northwest passage

• Main Author: Pek, Yong Qing.
• Other Authors: Lum Kit Meng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Maritime studies
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52674
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Over the past decades, the Arctic region has largely remained unexplored due to its infamously unreliable weather and ice conditions, much less so for shipping activities. However, as global warming continues to bring about changes worldwide, the Arctic region has not been spared. Warmer summers have brought about melting sea ice, allowing access to previously-blocked potential shortcuts between Asia and North America or Europe. With Arctic routes becoming increasingly viable as shipping routes, congestion problems faced by Suez Canal from the high vessel traffic volume may finally have a solution, at the same time promising substantial cost savings through shortened voyage time. This research paper aims to explore the possibilities of Arctic shipping, in particular making a comparison between the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Northwest Passage (NWP) in terms of economical viability, as well as the impacts of shipping activities on the delicate Arctic environment. As the opening of either Arctic routes will have great impact on future shipping patterns. Therefore, a survey was conducted across the maritime community in Singapore to understand their receptiveness and concerns towards Arctic shipping, of which feasibility of infrastructure and navigation was found to be the main obstacle for usage of both Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Northwest Passage (NWP). Together with the research reports of the 2 other team members (Teng Zhi Ying and Yen Tingen) which focus on the evaluation of political, regulatory, technological and navigability aspects, a conclusion will be drawn relating to the identification of the passage that is more feasible for future maritime shipping activities.