Commercializing the Arctic

[hpeer]

FWIW

I don't know this source. Know Reuters though.

White House Releases Plan to Make Arctic Shipping Safer

RIGZONE - White House Releases Plan to Make Arctic Shipping Safer

WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - As Arctic ice melts away, opening the way for greater oil development and mining, the White House outlined a plan on Thursday to promote safety and security in the region by building ports, improving forecasts of sea ice, and developing shipping rules. With warmer temperatures leaving Arctic sea passages open for longer periods of the year, billions of barrels of oil could be tapped beyond what is already being produced in the region. A loss of seasonal ice could also allow greater exploitation of precious minerals considered abundant in the Arctic.

[Jimmy Jazz]

Originally Posted by hpeer

FWIW

I don't know this source. Know Reuters though.



RIGZONE - White House Releases Plan to Make Arctic Shipping Safer

so nothing was learnt from the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico eh!

[Pelagic]

Read the same on G-Captain
I think this is a great idea to take away the Panama squeeze. Wonder if they will ever develop shallow rated submarine cargo ships and tankers to slide under the ice year round?

[hpeer]

I don't think you have the depth, some of the straits are pretty tight for surface vessels. Lots of thin water in places.

[StuM]

Great idea. I'm sure they can get a lot of advice on their plans from the numerous expeditions that got trapped trying to get through the NW passage last summer.

[laika]

With warmer temperatures leaving Arctic sea passages open for longer periods of the year, billions of barrels of oil could be tapped beyond what is already being produced in the region. A loss of seasonal ice could also allow greater exploitation of precious minerals considered abundant in the Arctic.

The very definition of backwards thinking.

[Stevens 47]

Their was a piece on this topic on NPR radio Warren Almey to the Point yesterday. A guy had written a book about how their are some who are profiting or are looking to from climate change with specific mention of the Arctic region. According to the writer the Russians are far ahead of the US and Canada and actively developing a North East passage, they have a large ice breaking fleet.

Jack

[JPA Cate]

Where there are predator people, there will be folks who will try and profit from ANYTHING.

[captain58sailin]

More petrolem products = more global warming. What could go wrong with that?

[bgallinger]

Good news! More private sector jobs for the folks up north.

[tightgroup]

Global warming ?? On what planet? Our planet is actually cooling down since 1998. Actually I would welcome a bit more warming , we just came out of 3 months of temps hovering around the -20 continuously and those are daytime highs

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[captain58sailin]

Yipee! Let's go ahead and put the Pebble mine in at the head waters of the Bristol Bay drainage system as long as we are at it, and think of all the jobs for the locals, who won't be fishing anymore because the run off has killed one of the richest salmon fisheries anywhere. Jobs are over rated, they expect you to show up every day. I understand the Polar Bears are adapting nicely though, they have turned to hunting on land, and they are not afraid of people, in fact they find them to be a nice snack. I assume your comment is tongue in cheek.

[tightgroup]

Yes better to run half cocked and petrified, than to understand a situation and correct it. Pollution can be very controlled. Its a question of costs.

Now back to training my Polar bear so he can survive on Welfare

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by StuM

Great idea. I'm sure they can get a lot of advice on their plans from the numerous expeditions that got trapped trying to get through the NW passage last summer.

One of the yachts reported that it was anomalous winds that resulting in ice plugging their routes.

The North West Passage was open this summer. A Danish coal carrier transited from Vancouver to Finland.

Ice volumes are down 55% since the 1980's.

The company that made the first commercial transit of the Northwest Passage plans to increase its shipments through the legendary waterway next year, suggesting such traffic is coming sooner than anyone anticipated.

"We hope and expect to do it," said Christian Bonfils of Nordic Bulk Carriers, the Danish shipper which owns the Nordic Orion.

The vessel made history last September when it hauled 15,000 tonnes of coal to Finland from Vancouver through waters that were once impenetrable ice. It took four days less than it would have taken to traverse the Panama Canal, and its greater depths allowed the Orion to carry about 25 per cent more coal.

Sailing through the passage saved the company about $200,000 and resulted in a nicely profitable voyage.

"We had a very smooth voyage and not any major delays," said Bonfils. "We're very pleased about it."

The company is talking with the Canadian government about ramping up those shipments, Bonfils said. The number of planned transits is under discussion.

Danish shipper plans more commercial travel in Northwest Passage

A Cosco container ship transited the Siberia route as well. Russia issued over 400 permits this year, up from 4 a few years ago.

We are starting see to territorial claims coming from the Polar nations.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

Global warming ?? On what planet? Our planet is actually cooling down since 1998. Actually I would welcome a bit more warming , we just came out of 3 months of temps hovering around the -20 continuously and those are daytime highs

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

We have been through this before. A sailor should understand that using that time frame puts an inordinate emphasis on the strongest El Nino event in the previous 50 years.

20 and 30 years of observed data show significant warming. 30 years is the WMO standard for averages.