Navigating the future of Arctic shipping

Shipping’s impact on Arctic coastal communities

Arctic coastal communities that are used to largely un-trafficked waters are likely to experience major changes as shipping in the Arctic increases. As shipping increases, it may interfere with communities’ subsistence harvesting of fish and marine mammals, foul their coastlines if they spill fuel or other toxic substances or impose a heavy burden upon their limited search and rescue and response capabilities in the event of an accident.

One such community is the town of Adak, located in the Aleutian Islands that connects westward from the Alaska Peninsula towards the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. If the Northern Sea Route becomes traversable for more than six months a year, the shorter route to Europe could become profitable for routes to Japan, Korea and China. Adak – a community of 330 people – could soon find itself in the crosshairs of Arctic shipping, which will connect vessels to the Great Circle Route – a route that 7,000 vessels could soon use to bring goods to Europe.

For the Unangan (Aleut people) and other Indigenous peoples across the Arctic coastline that rely on subsistence hunting, safe and sustainable shipping is critical. “Healthy oceans and a clean environment equal healthy people and for us to continue our subsistence lifestyles that is something that we are very much cognizant of,” says Dr. Liza Mack, Executive Director of the Aleut International Association. “The Aleut region is the doorway to get to the Arctic. In order to get to the Northern Sea Route and through to the Northwest Passage, you come through our region. Therefore, I think that safety at sea translates to our people still being able to hunt and fish and remain on the landscape.”

With the potential to have significant implications for Arctic inhabitants and the region as a whole, cooperation and coordination between all stakeholders is needed to ensure this emerging sector of shipping is developed in a sustainable way.

Fostering cooperation

In September 2020, the Arctic Council launched a new marine cooperation initiative: The Senior Arctic Officials’ Marine Mechanism (SMM). The virtual series brought together marine experts from across the Arctic Council network for discussions on how to improve the coordination of marine issues, including Arctic shipping.

Magnús Jóhannesson, Special Adviser for Arctic Affairs to the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, moderated the Arctic shipping session and commented, “Sustainable development in any sector will not be fruitful unless we involve the sector itself, so if the Arctic Council wants to promote sustainable Arctic shipping it is important to collaborate with the shipping sector operating in the Arctic.”

One way in which the Council collaborates with the shipping sector is through its cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). To raise awareness of Arctic shipping provisions amongst all those involved in or potentially affected by Arctic marine operations, PAME established the Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum in 2017. The Forum meets on a yearly basis, and is open to Arctic States, Indigenous Permanent Participants, Arctic Council Observers and any widely recognized professional organization dedicated to improving safe and environmentally sound marine operations in the Arctic.

Relative to other parts of the globe, Arctic shipping is still in an early stage, providing an opportunity for the Council in partnership with marine stakeholders to guide its development in a sustainable way. Continuing to monitor Arctic shipping trends and its impacts on the Arctic marine environment and communities, combined with continued cooperation among the Arctic States, Indigenous Permanent Participants and shipping stakeholders will shape the future of Arctic shipping.