Arctic Transportation

At the Arctic Transportation Conference, hosted by the Maritime Administration in Washington D.C. on June 5, 2008, more than 100 national and international maritime and energy government and industry leaders, discussed the potential for development of the Arctic Ocean, and the region generally, as a viable maritime route for oceangoing trade, resource exploration and development.

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska led off the discussions by noting the potential impact of an Arctic route on the State of Alaska, the need for the U.S. ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention, and the necessity for careful, principled global cooperation in the development/utilization of the Region.

Representatives of the Department of State, the White House Office of Science and Technology, the Arctic Research Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Institute of the North examined into the current, political, climatological, social, and economic factors impacting the commercial use of the Arctic Ocean and its environs.

Industry leaders, in turn, presented differing assessments and prognoses of the availability and reliability of the Arctic Region as a route for regular trade and commerce. A panel of vessel owner/operators of domestic and foreign flag carriers debated all aspects of the risks and rewards of operating in the Region’s ice-covered waters. Each agreed, however, that even if the area would lend itself to commercial operations, such operations would require, among other things, substantial infrastructure development, the installation of effective aids to navigation, regular, dependable, long range and immediate local weather forecasting, reliable, available search and rescue capabilities, vessels designed to operate in such waters, and mariners trained in operating in such harsh climates.

The Deputy Secretary of Transportation emphasized that with respect to this issue of Arctic Transportation, “the future is now”. He went on to underscore the importance of collaboration between industry and government in addressing all of the concerns mentioned above – the implications of opening the Arctic to transportation as they relate to design and operation of vessels, safety, security and environmental matters, qualifications of seamen operating such vessels, and the availability of resources to fund such initiatives.

Based upon the views expressed at the Conference, the Maritime Administration will soon announce a comprehensive plan for an in-depth, collaborative assessment and oversight of the serious issues raised at this first of its kind U.S. forum on the viability of commercial maritime transportation in the Arctic.

Remarks by Senator Lisa Murkowski

Presentation by Ben Ellis, Institute of the North, "Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment: Implications of a Changing Arctic"

Presentation by Thomas Gilmour, ABS Americas: "Arctic Shipping and Class"

Presentation by John Dolny, Stevens Institute of Technology, "International Student Design Competition: Ultra Green Arctic Shipping System"

Presentation by John Calder, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Maritime-Relevant Arctic Science at NOAA"

Presentation by William Sheffield, Port of Anchorage, "Northwest Intermodal Conference"

Presentation by Kathy Metcalf, Chamber of Shipping of America, "The Evolving Arctic Trade Route: Industry View--Boon or Bust?"

Presentation by Peter Noble, Conoco Phillips, "Circum-Polar Developments in Oil and Gas"

Presentation by Nils Mortensen, BIMCO

Presentation by Ted Thompson, Cruise Lines International

Presentation by Mead Treadwell, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, "Is America Ready for an Accessible Arctic?"

Presentation by Dan Walker, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett

Maritime Administration will meet with Propeller Club of Seattle WA, December 4, 2008