Scientists claim that the sailing routes via Russia and Canada are currently both open for shipping. Does this mean that Chinese container ships with electronics onboard will set sail to Rotterdam via the North Pole? Probably not … the North route is not ready at all for mass shipping.
August 31, 2008, ice specialist Mark Serreze from the American National Snow and Ice Data Center claimed via the British ‘The Independent’ that the Pole route via Canada and Russia is ice free!
In 2005 the Russian part was ice free while the Canadian was iced. Last year it was reversed. Now you can, temporary, sail around the North Pole. Willem Barentsz would have been chilled.
Is this going to happen more often? This means shorter shipping routes from Europe to Asia for a couple of months per year. Planner Trausti Vallson made some calculations in his book ‘How the world will change with global warming’ two years ago.
The distance Rotterdam-Shanghai via the Hope is 13,889 nautical miles or 27.6 sailing days. The route via the Suez canal is 19.1 days and via north Russia 17.6 days. From Rotterdam to Shanghai via the North Pole would save 8% of sailing time. From Rotterdam to Yokohama would even reduce sailing time 30%!.
So what are we waiting for? In order to able to sail around the North pole you have to meet stringent quality requirements and this makes it very expensive.
Minco van Heezen states that it can take decennia before the big shipping companies can meet these standards. There is interest for this route though …
Starting in 2009, Beluga Group will start its P-series from Bremen in Germany which in under construction at the moment. In this series are ships with the ice class E3. This means they can sail the North route without a ice breaker if the route is 90% ice free.
The expertise to built these ice class ships can be found at shipyards in Russia and Canada. Leader in this area is the Canadian shipping company Fednav which operate ships that can sail through 1.8 meter of ice!
According to Lloyd’s, Fednav’s bulk ships cost 150-220 million a piece what makes them twice so expensive.
The market for these ice class ships is not even in the ordering phase but is still at the drawing table.
Browse Timeline
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
