Tag: Arctic

The new Alaska-based company Qilak LNG revealed plans to ship natural gas from the North Slope field to Asian markets, under a proposed Alaska North Slope LNG export project (Qilak LNG 1 Project). To this end, the company announced an agreement with ExxonMobil Alaska Production to ship LNG from Point Thomson.

Two large-capacity Sovcomflot tankers using cleaner-burning LNG as a primary fuel, Mendeleev Prospect and Lomonosov Prospect, have successfully completed voyages eastbound along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

A newly-launched report provides information on the past and present activity patterns in the northern U.S. Arctic and surrounding waters around the Bering Strait, while also projects if the number of vessels sailing in the Arctic region in the future will be increased by 2030, examining four scenarios.

Russia is considering of attracting more shippers to transmit their products through the Northern Sea route, by launching a state-run container ship operator, which will cover any risks linked with transporting international cargoes via the Arctic’s icy waters, including possible delivery disruptions and higher insurance payments.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has decided not to use the Arctic as a new short cut between northern Europe and Asia and will instead focus on enhancing environmental performance on existing global trade routes.

The removal of the Northguider trawler that grounded in early 2019, in a in the Hinlopen Strait, has been postponed for next year as announced by the Norwegian Coastal Administration, as the salvage company found out that the grounded vessel suffered more damage than what they initially expected. 

In view of the challenges facing the Arctic due to global warming, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde, and European Commissioner Karmenu Vella, stated that the EU is strongly committed to helping the region adapt to climate change.

The Arctic Council and the Arctic Economic Council conduct their first joint meeting in Reykjavik, October 9, bringing together stakeholders to discuss the future of Arctic, marine transportation and blue economy.Earlier this year, the two councils signed a Memorandum of Understanding, setting the base on how the two Councils can better cooperate on their shared goals.

The Norwegian Government announced that it will set a new location for a new search and rescue base to Tromsø, following the increased use of shipping in the Arctic. Tromsø is located on the northern coast to the Norwegian Sea, an addition to another two rescue bases in northern Norway; one in Bodø and the SAR helicopter base at Banak airport in Finnmark.

Nikolay Monko, the head of Russia’s Northern Sea Route Administration, commented that the volume of products being transmitted through the NSR is expected to reach 29 million tons in course of 2019.