Clean Arctic Alliance flags new Arctic shipping plans

The Clean Arctic Alliance is raising concerns after reports that the Liberian‑flagged Dubai Tower has left Ningbo, China, to try crossing the Northern Sea Route. South Korea’s PanStar has also bought a ship for an expected Arctic transit.

“The Clean Arctic Alliance is seriously concerned about the interest in the Northern Sea Route as a regular trade route and the consequences for the Arctic, Indigenous communities and wildlife,” said Sian Prior, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance. “Increased commercial shipping activity will lead to increased climate impacts, increased pollution and increased loss of biodiversity.”

Prior said black carbon from ship fuels speeds up the melting of sea ice and land ice. She noted that Arctic sea ice is currently at the eighth lowest extent on record. She also said liquefied natural gas is not a suitable alternative fuel because of methane emissions, as there are risks from oil and wastewater discharges and underwater noise.

“It is imperative that any shipping seeking to use the Arctic as a route from Asia to Europe or vice versa strictly follows the international regulations and guidance agreed by the International Maritime Organization,” Prior said. She suggested that ships to use cleaner fuels with lower black carbon emissions and to measure and report their emissions.

The Dubai Tower, operated by Sea Legend, is due in Felixstowe on September 7, followed by Hamburg and Gdynia.

Prior said recent International Maritime Organization (IMO) steps, including limits on heavy fuel oil use in parts of the Arctic and the new Northeast Atlantic Emission Control Area, do not fully address black carbon emissions. A proposal on polar fuels backed by Denmark, Germany, France and the Solomon Islands is now currently under review a the IMO.

“The Clean Arctic Alliance is calling on other Arctic countries to support Denmark in the creation of this new regulation requiring the use of cleaner maritime fuels in order to protect the Arctic,” Prior said.