The Northeast Passage

The Northeast Passage, also known as the Northern Sea Route, is a maritime route along the Arctic coast of Russia. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, offering a shorter shipping route between Europe and Asia, particularly during summer when ice conditions are more navigable. The passage is set to be an alternative to the Suez Canal, an important artificially made shipping route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

The Northeast passage has historical significance as a sought after maritime route. Explorers like Willem Barentsz attempted to navigate the route in the 1590's , seeking a direct trade route to Asia. In the modern era, its opening due to receding Arctic ice has implications for international trade, providing a shorter path for shipping and potentially altering global economic dynamics.

As the ice caps wax and wane each year with the seasons, so too does safe passage through the Northeast. In the comparison above, we see that during the arctic maximum in March, the passage is completely sealed off. The Northeast Passage is generally navigable from July to September, when the water is above freezing.

However in recent years the ice caps have been too thick all year round. In 2021, NASA Satellite data revealed that the Northern route was still mired in ice. Cruise lines that normally traverse this route were forced to reverse course. This variability makes the journey still uncertain and dangerous to navigate.

Because of the human impacts of climate change, the Northeast passage has become more accessible to the development of navigational routes and exploration of resources such as oil. Usually only being available two months out of the year, the melting of ice caps as made the passage more accessible than ever. However, the gain of more profits by way of melting ice caps is a loss for the state of the environment. In addition to the high volumes of pollutants in the arctic sea, 25 million tones by 2025 and 100 million tones by 2023, indigenous marine animals also become even more vulnerable. Infrastructure around the Sea Route must/ have been built including railways, airports, and roadways, and major ports. Locals to the arctic region are also worried about how the polluted water and the use of land for ports, airports, and railways will affect their trades of fishing and raising reindeer.

During the 1900s, and Russia's time as the Soviet Union, The Northeast Passage developed as a subsidized domestic shipping route, with through traffic peaking at 1987 with 6.58 tons of cargo being transported. The passage most navigable during summer months, when sea ice is mostly melted and ships can safely pass. The location of the passage also makes it a top contender with Suez Canal, being up to three times shorter than the canal and overall a faster and cheaper means for shipping companies. The shorter distance also allows vessels to sail at slower speeds while still maintain the same time frame compared to using the Suez Canal, maximizing efficiency and lowering fuel costs and emmissions.

To monitor and research the arctic passage, the US Coast Guard commissioned the USCGC Healy in 1999. This modern icebreaker has the ability to safely navigate the arctic circle. In 2015, USCGC Healy became the first American vessel to reach the North Pole.

Modern icebreaker vessels have the potential to make the Northeast Passage a safe and reliable trade route. One of the first icebreakers, the Soviet Kapitan Khlebnikov, today offers cruises through the Northeast Passage for research and recreation purposes.

Although the Passage is not currently navigated for trade, newer ice-breaking vessels may be the solution. First invented in 1995, the double-action vessel can operate forwards and astern, which greatly improves aerodynamics. This overcomes the economic limitations that have prevented icebreakers from being used for commerce.

Double-action cargo tankers are currently operated in Finland and Sweden to safely and efficiently deliver fuel through Baltic ice up to 6.9 feet thick. Shown below are examples of these icebreaker cargo vessels.