Introduction to the New Maritime Arctic

Abstract

Fundamental changes continue to reshape the maritime Arctic. Globalization (the linkage of Arctic natural resources to global markets), profound climate change, regional and global geopolitics, and challenges to the Arctic’s indigenous people are all drivers of a new era at the top of the world. The Arctic Council’s Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment released in 2009 continues to be a key, policy framework of the Arctic states for protection of Arctic people and the marine environment. An International Maritime Organization (IMO) Polar Code ushered in on 1 January 2017 a new era of governance for commercial ships and passenger vessels sailing in polar waters. Current Arctic marine commercial traffic is dominated by destinational voyages related to natural resource development, particularly along Russia’s Northern Sea Route. New Arctic marine operations and shipping are emerging, but significant challenges remain including: effective implementation and enforcement of the IMO Polar Code; a huge gap in Arctic marine infrastructure (hydrography and charting, communications, emergency response capacity, and more); enhancing the monitoring and surveillance of Arctic waters; the challenge of developing a set of marine protected areas and additional Polar Code measures for the circumpolar region; and, the need for large public and private investments, as well as potential public-private partnerships in the Arctic. Cooperation among the Arctic states, the non-Arctic shipping states, and the global maritime enterprise will be critical to effective protection of Arctic people and the marine environment, and developing sustainable strategies for the region.

The research and editing of this chapter and volume was supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grant award 1263678 to L. W. Brigham and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.