The Arctic Council’s Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) has issued its Arctic Shipping Status Report – Flag States of Ships in the Arctic: 2022, which analyzes the number of ships operating in the by their Flag State.
According to the report, in total, there were 1661 unique ships that entered the Arctic Polar Code area in 2022. Of these ships, there were 42 Flag States represented. The number of ships represented by the eight Arctic States was 1349. Furthermore, ninety-six ships were represented by Arctic Council Observer States.
According to the Arctic Council, the flag under which a ship sails – plays a vital function in maritime safety and security as well as protection and preservation of the marine environment. By linking a ship to a State, the system of ship registration creates international legal rights and obligations, both for the ship and for the State whose flag the ship flies.
Increased Arctic shipping activity raises environmental concerns like black carbon emissions, oil spills and ecosystem disturbance. As a result, international regulations like the Polar Code aim to address safety and environmental standards.
In any case, as shipping evolves, stakeholders must balance economic opportunities with environmental and safety considerations for sustainable maritime practices in this sensitive region.
