Northwest Passage thread

[Jim Hunt]

MS Bremen has found some sea ice in the Beaufort Sea:

https://www.hl-cruises.com/ships/ms-bremen/explore-ship/webcam-ships-position?webcam=20190821

[binntho]

Somewhere here?

[petm]

They went looking for it? 

[philopek]

They went looking for it? 

Absolutely, there is sufficient open water further south

A cruise through open waters can be had in warmer places and so far of the cost there is not much to see, hence I think you're spot on, it's part of the attraction. Costa Concordia is greeting in a certain way.

[Phil.]

They've been about a week since they were last in the ice and have since been sailing in flat calm ice-free waters so they probably wanted to generate some excitement?  Unlike the earlier ice though no-one was up on the bow looking at it (although it only took half an hour to transit).

[philopek]

They've been about a week since they were last in the ice and have since been sailing in flat calm ice-free waters so they probably wanted to generate some excitement?  Unlike the earlier ice though no-one was up on the bow looking at it (although it only took half an hour to transit).

The observation lounges are rarely at the bow, in most cases the bow-section is off-limits, prohibited to access to passengers because it's a dangerous place.

Observation lounges would be in a nice warm saloon behind strong windows though.

Either way I don't know of course, it was just an idea because why else should they take the ice-route when a safer ice-free route is available in abundance further south

[Phil.]

They've been about a week since they were last in the ice and have since been sailing in flat calm ice-free waters so they probably wanted to generate some excitement?  Unlike the earlier ice though no-one was up on the bow looking at it (although it only took half an hour to transit).

The observation lounges are rarely at the bow, in most cases the bow-section is off-limits, prohibited to access to passengers because it's a dangerous place.

Observation lounges would be in a nice warm saloon behind strong windows though.

Either way I don't know of course, it was just an idea because why else should they take the ice-route when a saver ice-free route is available in abundance furthe south

Some did come out later.

[philopek]

They've been about a week since they were last in the ice and have since been sailing in flat calm ice-free waters so they probably wanted to generate some excitement?  Unlike the earlier ice though no-one was up on the bow looking at it (although it only took half an hour to transit).

The observation lounges are rarely at the bow, in most cases the bow-section is off-limits, prohibited to access to passengers because it's a dangerous place.

Observation lounges would be in a nice warm saloon behind strong windows though.

Either way I don't know of course, it was just an idea because why else should they take the ice-route when a saver ice-free route is available in abundance furthe south

Some did come out later.

OK, so it's not the way I assumed it would be.

I have to make a note about the Cruise Company, a nice thing if one can watch from the bow section.

Thanks for the heads-up

[Phil.]

You're welcome, they even do group photos.

[Tom_Mazanec]

A Northwest Passage Journey Finds Little Ice and Big Changes
https://e360.yale.edu/features/a-northwest-passage-journey-finds-little-ice-and-big-changes

After decades of travel in the Far North, E360’s Arctic correspondent joins a voyage through the Northwest Passage and witnesses a world being transformed, with ice disappearing, balmy temperatures becoming common, and alien invaders – from plastic waste to new diseases – on the rise.

[gandul]

The latest Univ Hamburg chart suggests an open way along the most direct route but I am sure navigation charts will find plenty of blocking ice especially around McClure Strait and the Beaufort sea.

[tama manu]

Anyone know what is up with these two remaining "pleasure craft" at Gjoa Haven?  Looks like they will have a hard time making it out

[Jim Hunt]

A couple of articles from David Charbonneau aboard Ocean Endeavour:

https://cfjctoday.com/news-team-david-charbonneau/

You would think that a rapidly-warming Arctic would make navigation easier. But Canadian Coast Guard representatives aboard said that warming has only loosened existing ice so it can shift around, making it less predictable. Without the benefit of reliable ice charts, we too might have found ourselves blocked.

[Jim Hunt]

Royal Wagenborg successfully completes three polar voyages:

https://www.wagenborg.com/news/wagenborg-successfully-completes-three-polar-voyages

The MV Amazoneborg travelled from China to Canada via the Northwest Passage, while the MV Thamesborg sailed the exact opposite route from Canada to China.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a shipping lane between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean along the Russian coast of Siberia and the Far East. The MV Atlanticborg was nominated as Wagenborg's first vessel to sail this route. After loading in Tornio (Finland) and Flushing (the Netherlands) the vessel sailed northwards instead of the traditional route via the Suez Canal.

[NotaDenier]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/bering-strait-northwest-passage-arctic-ice-melts

[NevB]

Is it time to bring this thread back from the dead ?

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?v=-2778199.9905036706,-1354465.1083608659,-507667.1934410725,-220406.44004077022&p=arctic&l=AMSRE_Sea_Ice_Concentration_12km,Reference_Labels_15m,Reference_Features_15m,Graticule,Coastlines_15m,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_Bands721,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_Bands367,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor&lg=false&t=2021-05-14-T10%3A50%3A09Z

Flipping back on this day to 2012 only 2015 looks to be similar

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?v=-2778199.9905036706,-1354465.1083608659,-507667.1934410725,-220406.44004077022&p=arctic&l=AMSRE_Sea_Ice_Concentration_12km,Reference_Labels_15m,Reference_Features_15m,Graticule,Coastlines_15m,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_Bands721,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_Bands367,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor&lg=false&t=2015-05-14-T10%3A50%3A09Z

[Jim Hunt]

Is it time to bring this thread back from the dead ?

We moved to annual NW Passage threads last year Nev.

Please see the shiny new one for 2021:

https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php?topic=3498

If you're quick you'll have the pleasure of bagging the first (changeable) vote!

[Steven]

There is no thread yet for 2024?

The next 7 days will be warm in most of the CAA, and the sea ice extent and area are already low there.  So there may be an early opening of the Northwest Passage in the next few weeks?

[Jim Hunt]

There is no thread yet for 2024?

Great minds think alike Steven?

Please see: https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php?topic=4249.0