EU approaches Arctic

“Arctic strategy” also applies to shipping

Last year the sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic melted to such an extent that for the first time both the Northeast and the Northwest Passage were navigable for ships.

The ice-free Northern Sea Route – as the Russians call the Northeast Passage – in particular, brings an enormous advantage for European shipping: from the island of Novaya Semlya in northwest Russia, the route runs along the Siberian coast to the Bering Strait. This 7,400 nm long route shortens the voyage from Europe to Asia, for instance from Hamburg to Yokohama in Japan, by nearly 40 %. The passage through the Suez Canal, by comparison, is 11,500 nm long.

The Northeast Passage, say scientists, could be used 120 days a year by the end of the century – and the ever declining sea ice will open up additional routes for shipping. Access to the resources located in the Arctic is thus also made easier.

At the end of November this fact induced the European Union to devote itself more intensively to the Arctic and adopt an “Arctic strategy” for a holistic EU marine policy, especially since the territory of three EU Member States projects into the Arctic.

As the EU Member States have the largest merchant marine fleet in the world, it is in Europe’s interest to improve the prerequisites for expanding merchant shipping in the Arctic. Through the “Arctic strategy” the EU Commission wants to boost full implementation of requirements in the areas of navigation rules, ship safety, route and environment standards in the Arctic, in particular those of the International Shipping Organization (IMO).

Special regulations of individual countries bordering the Arctic should therefore be avoided, such as discrimination of foreign vessels in the charging of fees, in the requirement of route consulting or in the acceptance of icebreakers. Currently the fees for sailing on the Northern Sea Route along the Siberian coast, for example, are still seven times higher than for the passage through the Suez Canal.

Improving Nautical Infrastructure

With better satellite cover of Arctic marine regions it would be possible to improve monitoring ship traffic and react to emergencies faster as well as facilitate navigation.

Together with the European Space Agency, the Commission is currently looking into a polar-orbiting satellite system that can receive all signals sent from the Earth. In the Arctic there is a need to develop nautical infrastructure, up-to-date sea charts and other aids all the way to ship­yards and ports.

Another approach of the “Arctic strategy” is to designate certain shipping routes in the Arctic as exceptionally hazardous marine areas according to the provisions of the IMO if this is proposed by one of the Arctic states.

The EU also wants to support and improve the IMO environmental and safety standards “that are applicable to Arctic waters”. Maritime shipping is required here to take measures that have proven effective in practice.

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