Northwest Passage

[freetime]

Originally Posted by jscott

Yeah, they had some pictures of the Ice Breaker Louis St. Laurant, pushing pack ice through the North west passage just last week...

Probably won't make it with a Bavaria 46....

Do you have any link to little more info about it? Not a bavaria but a catamaran 40f plus.

A aluminium Banana catamaran?

[jscott]

Originally Posted by freetime

Do you have any link to little more info about it? Not a bavaria but a catamaran 40f plus.

A aluminium Banana catamaran?

Results

[freetime]

Originally Posted by jscott

Results

Good info, thanks.

[Steve Pope]

It appears that Canadian authorities are about to put some controls on the Northwest passage which has until now been considered International waters. Interesting to see how this develops!!

[freetime]

But, do you think you can sail the passage in the near future?

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

It appears that Canadian authorities are about to put some controls on the Northwest passage which has until now been considered International waters. Interesting to see how this develops!!

Waterfront property going up for sale?

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by freetime

But, do you think you can sail the passage in the near future?

I knew two guys, Mike Bidell and Jeff MacGuiness who tried to sail the NWP from east to west in '86. They didn't make it till three years later.

The Cdn Gov't does't have, has never had AFAIK no plans to restrict or regulate commercial shipping through the arctic. They do "ask" that those making commercial passages register with NORDREG. I think that was mentioned before.

Sport sailors and adventurers are another ball of wax. Some go into the endeavour well informed and equipped. Some do not. Most likely if you're not well informed and equipped the artic will claim you like it did Franklin.

I've been there a couple of times, on the luxury of a 20,000 tonne icebreaker. It's a bleak, desolate, beautiful and wonderous place. Words can hardly describe it. Global warming and the receeding ice has opened and extended the season in the arctic making it attractive for the adventurer. If you decide to make a passage, in either direction, you'll have to be as self sufficient as a circumnavigator plus the skills/knowledge to survive the extreme conditions in the arctic.

I'll see if I can find some stats on passages this year to see how many sport/adventurer passages have been made and on what type of boat.

[freetime]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

Waterfront property going up for sale?

One of the best thing with this forum is that a administrator also answer questions and have ideas

[Tory Salvia]

Matt Rutherford successfully transited the Northwest Passage solo, nonstop, east to west, in 2011 aboard an Albin Vega 27 sloop. The NWP was one leg in Matt's 311 day, solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas, which he completed successfully in April 2012 arriving at his homeport in Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. You can watch a free Public TV documentary about Matt and his voyage at https://www.pbs.org/video/wpbt2-pres...tt-rutherford/

[DeepFrz]

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

It appears that Canadian authorities are about to put some controls on the Northwest passage which has until now been considered International waters. Interesting to see how this develops!!

Canada considers the NW Passage to be Canadian waters which by all measures they are. Would the Americans consider Hells Gate or the waters between Santa Catalina Island and the mainland to be "International Waters"?

Canada has never considered the NW Passage to be International Waters.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Canada considers the NW Passage to be Canadian waters which by all measures they are. Would the Americans consider Hells Gate or the waters between Santa Catalina Island and the mainland to be "International Waters"?

Canada has never considered the NW Passage to be International Waters.

hence the reason that any shipping transiting the nwp are required to have a Canadian icebreaker escort.
Maintain national sovernty.

[SailOar]

Polar Code may be applied to smaller Arctic vessels | Nunatsiaq News

At a recent Arctic Council shipping forum in London, the International Marine Organization said it’s looking at expanding the Polar Code to smaller vessels.

“The entry into force of the Polar Code marked only the first phase of our effort to protect the pristine Arctic and Antarctic environments,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim to the recent Arctic Council shipping forum, held in London in early June.

The IMO, a United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution, is now putting attention on vessels that fall outside its mandatory regulatory regime, due to their size, Kim said.

In 2017, more than 20 smaller vessels and yachts transited the Northwest Passage, according to online sources. Apparently, none made it through the ice-choked waters last summer.

“We are well aware of the increased number of fishing vessels and pleasure yachts sailing in polar waters that do not fall under the provisions of the Polar Code,” Kim said....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Shipping in polar waters | International Marine Organization (IMO)

Polar Code summary

The Polar Code (click for full text) is intended to cover the full range of shipping-related matters relevant to navigation in waters surrounding the two poles – ship design, construction and equipment; operational and training concerns; search and rescue; and, equally important, the protection of the unique environment and eco-systems of the polar regions.

The Polar Code covers the full range of design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue and environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in the inhospitable waters surrounding the two poles.

The Polar Code includes mandatory measures covering safety part (part I-A) and pollution prevention (part II-A) and recommendatory provisions for both (parts I-B and II-B).

The Code will require ships intending to operating in the defined waters of the Antarctic and Arctic to apply for a Polar Ship Certificate, which would classify the vessel as Category A ship - ships designed for operation in polar waters at least in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions; Category B ship - a ship not included in category A, designed for operation in polar waters in at least thin first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions; or Category C ship - a ship designed to operate in open water or in ice conditions less severe than those included in Categories A and B.

The issuance of a certificate would require an assessment, taking into account the anticipated range of operating conditions and hazards the ship may encounter in the polar waters. The assessment would include information on identified operational limitations, and plans or procedures or additional safety equipment necessary to mitigate incidents with potential safety or environmental consequences.

Ships will need to carry a Polar Water Operational Manual, to provide the Owner, Operator, Master and crew with sufficient information regarding the ship's operational capabilities and limitations in order to support their decision-making process.

The chapters in the Code each set out goals and functional requirements, to include those covering ship structure; stability and subdivision; watertight and weathertight integrity; machinery installations; operational safety; fire safety/protection; life-saving appliances and arrangements; safety of navigation; communications; voyage planning; manning and training; prevention of oil pollution; prevention of pollution form from noxious liquid substances from ships; prevention of pollution by sewage from ships; and prevention of pollution by discharge of garbage from ships.....

[SailOar]

Sea ice in the Beaufort Sea is expected to clear the coast of northern Alaska within a week. This animation runs from about three weeks ago (May 24) to about one week in the future (June 22).


https://www7320.nrlssc.navy.mil/GLBh.../beaufort.html

[newhaul]

Yes the PDO is in a warm phase but the AMOC is in cold phase . Personally I doubt the nwp will be open this year without breaker assistance.

[SailOar]

The Alaskan part of NWP now navigable. Lancaster Sound, between Baffin Island and Devon Island, is opening up.


https://www.canada.ca/en/environment...ation-map.html