Pascagoula, Miss. – The Polar Security Cutter (PSC) is rapidly progressing through the detailed design phase, and Halter Marine is actively preparing for its construction. In July 2021, Halter Marine will complete upgrades to the launch way area where the PSC will be constructed. The 460-foot icebreaker* is the heaviest vessel per foot of length …
VT Halter Prepares for construction of polar security cutter Read More »
By Leo Ryan, Editor Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping (NEAS) has decided to cease its regular calls at the Port of Valleyfield on the St. Lawrence Waterway, ending a relationship of some 20 years, confirmed Jean-Philippe Paquin, General Manager of the port located 70 km southwest of Montreal. Valleyfield has been a key staging ground in …
Global Ice Center Weathernews Inc. published its review of Arctic Ocean ice conditions for 2020 and they observed that the Northeast Passage, the Russian side of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), was open for a record 88 days. Sea ice is usually at its peak surface area in February or March of each year, and at …
Northeast Passage opened 88 days setting new Arctic record Read More »
Climate change leads to more sea ice and higher risks for commercial marine shipping For more than ten months of the year, Canada’s Arctic is gripped by sub zero temperatures and its waters remain covered by ice. The sea ice found in these waters falls into two categories – fast ice and pack ice. While …
Melting sea ice makes Canada more, not less dependent on Icebreakers (Forum) Read More »
LONDON – In a decision criticized by environmental groups for not going far enough, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) today approved a proposed ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic region as of July 1, 2024. Such a ban already exists in the …
IMO committee approves ban on heavy ship fuel in the Arctic Read More »
OTTAWA – Marking the recent fourth anniversary of the Oceans Protection Plan, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, today announced $64.9M in funding towards 15 projects that will improve sealift and re-supply services in the North. For Nunavut, the projects include building a new warehouse facility to organize and store cargo containers in Iqaluit, improving sealift …
Canadian government invests $65M in 15 Northern sealift projects Read More »
Summer minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic reached the second-lowest level on record in 2020 (NASA) By Mark Serreze. Research Professor of Geography and Director, National Snow and Ice Data Centre, University of Colorado. With the setting of the sun and the onset of polar darkness, the Arctic Ocean would normally be crusted with sea …
Three reasons the Arctic freeze is unseasonably late and why it matters Read More »
World’s first heavy icebreaking LNG carrier, Christophe de Margerie (Photo: Total) Japanese shipping major Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) announced charter agreements for three icebreaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers with Russian gas producer PAO Novatek for the Arctic LNG 2 project. The three vessels will be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and …
MOL orders more LNG carriers for Arctic LNG 2 charter Read More »
By Edward Downing, Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping You may have seen these modern-day adventurers supplying Canada’s remote northern communities on the CBC TV show High Arctic Haulers, which chronicles the annual Eastern Arctic sealift. They battle ice-choked sea routes, a short summer sailing season – July to October – and a …
Breaking the ice: delivering the goods to the Arctic in a pandemic Read More »
To give you a taste of the new edition of Maritime Magazine (98), currently under press, here is the new Arctic column from our specialist in northern affairs, Carroll McCormick. Cambridge Bay photo above: Jane George Arctic housing leaves much to be desired, and there are not nearly enough family homes to go around. “There …
Cambridge Bay’s innovative home concept for the Arctic tundra Read More »
