U.S. Coast Guard Moves Forward with Proposed 4-mile-wide Arctic Shipping Corridor Near Alaska The U.S. Coast Guard and partnering federal agencies plan to organize shipping activity along a designated corridor to protect the marine environment and local communities. The route would lead from Western Alaska in the Bering Strait to the U.S.-Canada border in the Beaufort Sea. Survey work carried out by icebreakerHealyhelps inform the exact routing of the corridor.
Urgent Calls for IMO to Cut Black Carbon Emissions as Arctic Shipping Traffic Doubles Despite a partial ban on heavy fuels oils enacted in 2024 black carbon emissions from Arctic shipping continue to grow. A new report now calls for urgent action by the IMO to curb the harmful particulates and switch to cleaner, less polluting fuels.
IMO Approves Proposal for New Emission Control Areas in Norwegian and Canadian Arctic Waters In a significant step to protect Arctic and sub-Arctic waters from harmful emissions the International Maritime Organization moved forward with two new Emission Control Areas. The measures could enter into effect as early as March 2026.
IMO and Arctic States Face Criticism Over Weak HFO Ban An IMO sub-committee approved a proposed Arctic heavy fuel oil ban. Environmental advocates and indigenous peoples’ groups criticized the ban as insufficient and called on Arctic states to pass stronger regulation on their own.
Norway Announces Plans For HFO Ban around Svalbard Leapfrogging Proposed IMO Regulation A week before the IMO is expected to finalize a proposed heavy fuel oil ban for the entire Arctic, Norway announced plans for more stringent regulation for waters surrounding Svalbard.
IMO Inches Forward With Ban on Heavy Fuel Oil in Arctic The International Maritime Organization (IMO) continued its efforts to adopt a ban of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) in the Arctic by 2021 during a meeting in London. Environmental advocates laud the work, but urge Russia and Canada, the only two Arctic states yet to commit to the ban, to sign on to the initiative.
IMO Approves New Shipping Corridors in Bering Sea to Improve Safety The International Maritime Organization, part of the United Nations, approved a joint proposal by the United States and Russia to establish two-way shipping lanes across the Bering Sea and into the Arctic Ocean.
Kremlin Prioritizes Commercial Considerations in Arctic Safety Dispute The serious violation of Arctic shipping safety rules by Yamal LNG carrier Boris Vilkitsky last month has escalated a growing conflict about the regulation of and control over the Northern Sea Route.
Yamal LNG Carrier Boris Vilkitsky Permitted to Leave With Icebreaker Escort The ice-class LNG Boris Vilkitsky was permitted to leave after being detained by the Russian Coast Guard for a week. Questions remain surrounding the enforcement of safety rules along the Northern Sea Route.
Yamal LNG Carrier Boris Vilkitsky In Gross Violation of Safety Rules on NSR The LNG Carrier Boris Vilkitsky, operated by Dynagas LNG Partners, a joint venture by Dynagas, Sinotrans, and China LNG Shipping, entered Northern Sea Route last week in violation of the Rules of Navigation. Safety concerns on the route abound in the light of nearly 100 violations in 2017 alone. Will Russian authorities act to ensure safety along the route?
US and Russia Propose Two-Way Shipping Routes in Bering Sea The United States and Russia jointly propose a routing system for vessels passing through the Bering Strait and Bering Sea.
Dozens of Vessels Violate Safety Rules on Northern Sea Route During the first ten months of 2017, the Russian Northern Sea Route Administration recorded 88 violations of its Rules of Navigation committed by 84 vessels. This represents approximately 15-20 % of all ships traveling the route this summer.
Environmental Groups Push For Stronger Polar Code When the Polar Code takes effect in January 2017, it will strengthen the rules for many of the vessels sailing through Arctic waters. It will help protect the Arctic environment, but experts say gaps remain.
