The Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a seasonally ice-covered
marine shipping lane along the Russian coasts, from No-
vaya Zemlya in the west to the Bering Strait in the east. The
NSR is administered by the Russian Ministry of Transport
and has been open to marine traffic of all nations since
A cruise ship lands in Antarctica.
Photo: Steve Estvanik/iStockphoto.com
1991. For trans-Arctic voyages, the NSR represents a saving
in distance of up to 40 per cent from Northern Europe to
northeastern Asia and northwestern North America, com-
pared to southerly routes via the Suez or Panama Canals.
Shipping and tourism
Projected reductions in sea-ice extent are likely to improve
Climate models project that summer sea ice in the Arc- access along the NSR. The navigation season is often de-
tic Basin will retreat further and further away from most
fined as the number of days per year with navigable condi-
Arctic landmasses, opening new shipping routes and ex-
tions, generally meaning days with less than 50 per cent
tending the navigation season in the Northern Sea Route
sea-ice cover. For the NSR, the navigation season is pro-
(see box) by between two and four months
jected to increase from the current 20 to 30 days per year to
91
. Previously-
90 to 100 days per year by 2080 (Figure 5.19). An extended
frozen areas in the Arctic may therefore become season-
navigation season could have major implications for trans-
ally or permanently navigable, increasing the prospects
portation and access to natural resources
31,91
.
for marine transport through the Arctic and providing
greater access to Arctic resources such as fish, oil and
Extension of the
gas (Figure 5.18).
navigation season
(days)
In addition to increased cargo shipping, opening of sea 150
routes such as the Northern Sea Route and Northwest Sea ice
concentration: 75%
Passage will probably increase the number of tourist
100
cruises and passenger vessels in Arctic waters. In the
Antarctic, reduced sea ice might provide safer approach-
50%
es for tourist ships and new opportunities for sightseeing
50
around Antarctica, but may also increase the risk of en-
25%
vironmental impacts (see Chapter 9). Increased calving
0
of icebergs from the Antarctic Peninsula may, however, 2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100
affect navigation and shipping lanes
93
. Although tourism
is expected to experience a longer season in both the Arc-
Figure 5.19: Projected increase (days) of the navigation sea-
son through the Northern Sea Route as an average of 5 ACIA
tic and Antarctic, the industry is highly dependent upon
model projections
91
.
weather conditions. A more unpredictable and rainier
Source: Based on ACIA 2004
91
climate might reduce the attractiveness of some areas.
CHAPTER 5 ICE IN THE SEA 91
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