Northwest Passage thread

[Ninebelowzero]

She dawdled in  the main channel of the passage a few days ago (not sure if she went anywhere near the ice) before exiting the area. Current location in the Davis Stait thereabouts

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/cruiseships.phtml

The view from the starboard camera shows a leaden sea and grey skies almost identical to the starboard view from the Crystal Symphony wherever she may be so if you want an "adventure" cruise in the Arctic getting onboard a Russian icebreaker would seem the best bet.

The Xue Long is soon to exit the Coronation Gulf.

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/researchships.phtml

And keen eyed web browsers will note Irma is bearing down rapidly on several cruise ships. Now that would be an adventure holiday.

[Andreas T]

a clear view on the 9th shows ice between Victoria strait and Bellot strait fairly spread out, possibly passable for non icebreakers taking a chance? Is there a equally recent chart from canadian ice service? I can't find one.
Ice drifting south towards other narrow part of the passage though, not sure what the name is.

[Jim Hunt]

Is there a equally recent chart from canadian ice service?

There is indeed:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2017/07/the-northwest-passage-in-2017/#Sep-10

In addition, David Cowper has left Cambridge Bay in Polar Bound and is heading east.

[numerobis]

Seems the passage is closed again by new ice (40% new ice in that 'M' region, plus 30% old ice).

An ice-hardened ship would be able to get through still.

Today will be our first full day at/below freezing in Iqaluit.

[gerontocrat]

Seems the passage is closed again by new ice

The NE passage will be open for some time. The Russkies will be glad.

[Jim Hunt]

Rather later than last year, "Snow White's" detailed analysis of the Northwest Passage prospects for the small yachts endeavouring to sail (or more likely motor) through the Northwest Passage this summer:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/

The central section between Bellot Strait and Gjoa Haven and/or Cambridge Bay is still chock a block.

Cumming Inlet looks very inviting though:

[Jim Hunt]

The CCGS Amundsen passed the entrance to Cumming Inlet recently. S/V Crystal has ventured out even more recently, but the Amundsen is long gone:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#comment-245024

[charles_oil]

A slightly bigger - 11,000 ton - vessel about to head through on a €€€ cruise (fully booked this year AND in 2019 AND in 2020 - sorry).   
As its about to start it will be interesting to see progress against schedule (bottom jpg file).

Webcam - may be on a loop we will have to see...  https://en.ponant.com/le-soleal-so-2

Source:
https://en.ponant.com/cruises/the-arctic-the-northwest-passage-s270818-kn0645-2

From website:

We are inviting you to set sail for the Far North, well beyond the Arctic Circle, to a legendary, highly coveted maritime route: the Northwest Passage, the only possible shipping route between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

In Winter, this “roof of the world” is transformed into a majestic white desert; whilst in Summer, for a few short weeks, the temperature rises enough for the ice to melt. Life reappears, nature is reborn, the mythical route is finally free and we can breathe in the unique scent of great adventure.

Subject to ice and weather conditions.

The expedition highlights and itineraries described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

• Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466 ft
• Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 ft
• Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.3 ft
• Cruising speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 knots
• Ice class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 C
• Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bureau Veritas
• Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . French
• Guest decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
• Guest capacity (double occupancy) . . . . . . . . . . . . up to 264 PAX
• Normal crew size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
• Fleet of expedition Zodiac® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Mark V HD)
• Gross tonnage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 992 UMS
• Electric motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 x 2300 KW
• Installed power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 200 KW
• Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fincantieri-Ancône-Italy

[gerontocrat]

the Northwest Passage, the only possible shipping route between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Like the Russian Northern Sea Route does not exist? Alternative facts rule, OK?

[Jim Hunt]

The crew of Crystal have avoided being eaten by polar bears and contrary to the advice of the Canadian Coastguard are currently heading for Fort Ross:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#comment-245285

[Jim Hunt]

Akademik Ioffe is aground and taking on water with ~160 people aboard:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#comment-245290

Apparently there is no immediate danger to life, limb or environment though.

[Phil.]

Barely out of the harbor and ran aground on a rock on the first day!

[NACK]

Akademik Ioffe is a purpose built icebreaker and used for hydro-sonic studies of the Arctic.
Hydro-sonics is used to count fish and of course would give extremely accurate depth readings.
Ironic that a vessel outfitted like this would run aground! When I look at the published coordinates on google Earth I can clearly see the shoals beneath the surface where it went aground.

Their original route was through the Bellot Strait but for some reason the Ioffe chose not to enter the Strait. Was this decision based on the ice condition on the back side of the Bellot?

[Phil.]

Akademik Ioffe is a purpose built icebreaker and used for hydro-sonic studies of the Arctic.
Hydro-sonics is used to count fish and of course would give extremely accurate depth readings.
Ironic that a vessel outfitted like this would run aground! When I look at the published coordinates on google Earth I can clearly see the shoals beneath the surface where it went aground.

Their original route was through the Bellot Strait but for some reason the Ioffe chose not to enter the Strait. Was this decision based on the ice condition on the back side of the Bellot?

Their original schedule was to leave from Resolute but instead left from Kugaaruk probably because ice in the approach to Resolute.  I think in both cases the intention was to sail via Bellot to Cambridge bay.

[Jim Hunt]

Some insider information reveals that the Louis S. Saint Laurent will escort some ships through the Bellot Strait in the not too distant future:


http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#comment-245751

[Jim Hunt]

The yacht Anahita has sunk in the Bellot Strait:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#comment-245858

JRCC Trenton deployed a Hercules aircraft and the icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen to the scene.

No injuries to the passengers have been reported, and they are in excellent condition.

[Feeltheburn]

<snip; please, no concern trolling; N.>

[Kognsfjorden]

Not strictly the Northwest Passage but the French Catamaran / Ice Yacht who planned to sail / drag their boat / sledge over the pole are now on da 73 heading back to Sachs Harbour on Banks Island after taking too long to get over the pole before winter. Some great photos of condtions on the ice.

A very tough and well prepared group, but condtions were against them this year.

http://www.sebroubinet.eu/la-voie-du-pole_nouvelles.html

[Jim Hunt]

The French Catamaran / Ice Yacht who planned to sail / drag their boat / sledge over the pole

N.B. See also: https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,435.0.html

[gerontocrat]

The yacht Anahita has sunk in the Bellot Strait:

While looking for something else I came upon this  (I wonder if there are some plonkers floating around up there):

https://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/pdf/msin1276anx1.pdf

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: 020 7735 7611 Fax: 020 7587 3210 Telex: 23588 IMOLDN G
Ref. T1/3.02
MSC/Circ.1056
MEPC/Circ.399

23 December 2002

GUIDELINES FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN ARCTIC ICE-COVERED WATERS

1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-sixth session (2 to 13 December 2002), and
the Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its forty-eighth session (7 to 11 October 2002),
recognizing the need for recommendatory provisions applicable to ships operating in Arctic
ice-covered waters, additional to the mandatory and recommendatory provisions contained in
existing IMO instruments, approved Guidelines for ships operating in Arctic ice-covered waters, as
set out in the annex.
2 Member Governments are invited to bring the annexed Guidelines to the attention of
shipowners, ship designers, shipbuilders, ship repairers, equipment manufactures and installers and all other parties concerned with the operation of ships in Arctic ice-covered waters.

G-2.2 No pollutants should be carried directly against the shell in areas at significant risk of ice
impact. Operational pollution of the environment should be minimized by equipment selection and
operational practice.
G-2.3 Key safety-related, survival and pollution control equipment should be rated for the
temperatures and other conditions which may be encountered in the service intended.
G-2.4 Navigation and communications equipment should be suitable to provide adequate
performance in high latitudes, areas with limited infrastructure and unique information transfer
requirements.
G-2.5    Sea suction(s) should be capable of being cleared of accumulation of slush ice.

G-3.2 —Arctic ice-covered waters“ - solely for the purposes of these Guidelines, means those waters which are both:
.1 located north of a line from the southern tip of Greenland and thence by the southern
shore of Greenland to Kape Hoppe and thence by a r
thumb line to latitude 67º03‘9 N,
longitude 026º33‘4 W and thence by a rhumb line to Sørkapp, Jan Mayen and by the
southern shore of Jan Mayen to the Island of Bjørnøya, and thence by a great circle
line from the Island of Bjørnøya to Cap Kanin Nos and thence by the northern shore
of the Asian Continent eastward to the Bering Strait and thence from the Bering
Strait westward to latitude 60º North as far as Il‘pyrskiy and following the 60th North
parallel eastward as far as and including Etolin Strait and thence by the northern
shore of the North American continent as far south as latitude 60º North and thence
eastward to the southern tip of Greenland (see figure 1); and
.2 in which sea ice concentrations of 1/10 coverage or greater are present and which
pose a structural risk to ships.

POLAR CLASS GENERAL DESCRIPTION
PC 1 Year-round operation in all Arctic ice-covered waters
PC 2 Year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions
PC 3 Year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions
PC 4 Year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions
PC 5Year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions
PC 6Summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions
PC 7Summer/autumn operation in thin first-year ice with which may include old ice  inclusions

And then followed by exhaustive lists of requirements concerning the ship and the crew.

[NACK]

News today from the Northwest Passage blog that S/V CRYSTAL has given up after hanging around Fort Ross hoping for a storm or melting to break the ice barrier blocking their way west.

[Jim Hunt]

News today from the Northwest Passage blog that S/V CRYSTAL has given up.

Stale news!

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#comment-246255

What was your source?

[Jim Hunt]

Thanks to a heads up from snrjon there comes news that S/V Thor has made it through the worst that the Northwest Passage has had to offer this summer:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#Sep-07

Now Thor's only got the Beaufort Sea to contend with:

[Phil.]

Thanks to a heads up from snrjon there comes news that S/V Thor has made it through the worst that the Northwest Passage has had to offer this summer:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/the-northwest-passage-in-2018/#Sep-07

Now Thor's only got the Beaufort Sea to contend with:

Thor's currently closing in on the eastmost section of region I at about 6 knots.

[Phil.]

Thor's passed Prudhoe Bay at a good clip (6.7 knots)

[NACK]

Since the remelt season has begun I thought I would resurrect this idle thread last posted 9/11 last year:

Recently I found a buried treasure in the Internet Archives:

Roald Amundsen's "The North West passage" : being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship "Gjöa" 1903-1907 by Amundsen, Roald, 1872-1928; Hansen, Godfred, 1876-1937 Publication date 1908

Volume 1 link:
https://archive.org/details/roaldamundsensth01amun/page/n10
Volume 2 link:
https://archive.org/details/roaldamundsensth02amun/page/n10

This is a multi-faceted book that will surely delight anyone who is interested in the history of the NW passage. Amundsen had a dual purpose mission:
1-Be the first to transit the NW Passage
2-Setup an observatory to locate the Magnetic North Pole

He was extremely lucky in both regards as he was able to sail via Davis Strait, Lancaster Sound, Bering Strait, Peel Inlet, Rae Strait to what he christened "Gjoa Haven" on the SW coast of King William Island relatively unimpeded while sailing right past the 1903 position of the MNP on the Boothia Peninsula.

He and his small crew wintered on KWI for several winters to complete observations of the MNP during which time he befriended the local Inuits, who taught him many things that would be crucial for his success during his South Pole expedition. Amundsen was an uncanny observer and his detailed descriptions of the paleolithic way of life of the Inuits of KWI is worth the read in itself. The brilliance of their arctic survival skills passed down by word-of-mouth for hundreds of years is fascinating.

He also found artifacts from the Franklin Expedition tragedy which had unfolded on KWI some 60 years before and also heard reliable reports on what had transpired from the Inuit point of view.

His exit out of the CAA via Simpson Strait, Coronation Gulf, Amundsen Gulf, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea and the Bering Strait was more problematic than his entry voyage in terms of sea ice and entailed some harrowing experiences in the diminutive "Gjoa".

This chronicle of the Amundsen's expedition in a converted herring fishing boat with a skeleton crew also contains amazing photos, that coupled with Amundsen's first-hand account, make for a captivating read as he succeeded in a venture that had stymied the great wealth and power of England's maritime genius for hundreds of years.

All in all, this book will provide many hours of enjoyment whilst sitting in the rocking chair waiting for the sea ice to melt 

 

[Jim Hunt]

Recently I found a buried treasure in the Internet Archives:

Thanks for the heads up.

See also more NWP history, including some musical accompaniment!

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2016/04/the-northwest-passage-in-2016/

[gerontocrat]

Will the North-West Passage open this year? Early signs suggest  - yes

Baffin Bay , the Canadian Archipelago Area,the Beaufort and the Chukchi seas are all showing above average sea ice loss, and it looks like temperature anomalies will remain mostly above average over the next week to ten days at least.

Also check out Aluminium's latest gif showing the Beaufort disintegrating at
https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,2591.msg199798.html#msg199798

But - early days yet.

[Phil.]

Since the remelt season has begun I thought I would resurrect this idle thread last posted 9/11 last year:

Recently I found a buried treasure in the Internet Archives:

Roald Amundsen's "The North West passage" : being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship "Gjöa" 1903-1907 by Amundsen, Roald, 1872-1928; Hansen, Godfred, 1876-1937 Publication date 1908

Volume 1 link:
https://archive.org/details/roaldamundsensth01amun/page/n10
Volume 2 link:
https://archive.org/details/roaldamundsensth02amun/page/n10

This is a multi-faceted book that will surely delight anyone who is interested in the history of the NW passage. Amundsen had a dual purpose mission:
1-Be the first to transit the NW Passage
2-Setup an observatory to locate the Magnetic North Pole

He was extremely lucky in both regards as he was able to sail via Davis Strait, Lancaster Sound, Bering Strait, Peel Inlet, Rae Strait to what he christened "Gjoa Haven" on the SW coast of King William Island relatively unimpeded while sailing right past the 1903 position of the MNP on the Boothia Peninsula.

He and his small crew wintered on KWI for several winters to complete observations of the MNP during which time he befriended the local Inuits, who taught him many things that would be crucial for his success during his South Pole expedition. Amundsen was an uncanny observer and his detailed descriptions of the paleolithic way of life of the Inuits of KWI is worth the read in itself. The brilliance of their arctic survival skills passed down by word-of-mouth for hundreds of years is fascinating.

He also found artifacts from the Franklin Expedition tragedy which had unfolded on KWI some 60 years before and also heard reliable reports on what had transpired from the Inuit point of view.

His exit out of the CAA via Simpson Strait, Coronation Gulf, Amundsen Gulf, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea and the Bering Strait was more problematic than his entry voyage in terms of sea ice and entailed some harrowing experiences in the diminutive "Gjoa".

This chronicle of the Amundsen's expedition in a converted herring fishing boat with a skeleton crew also contains amazing photos, that coupled with Amundsen's first-hand account, make for a captivating read as he succeeded in a venture that had stymied the great wealth and power of England's maritime genius for hundreds of years.

All in all, this book will provide many hours of enjoyment whilst sitting in the rocking chair waiting for the sea ice to melt 

Yes I read those several years ago, well worth it.

[Jim Hunt]

It seems Mike Pompeo is keen on the idea of sending a US Navy vessel through the Northwest Passage this summer:

http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2019/05/07/u-s-navy-arctic-freedom-of-navigation-operation-northwest-passage/

Unfortunately:

"You would need an ice-strengthened vessel of some kind to do a FONOP in the Arctic region whether you’re going through the Northwest Passage or Northern Sea Route (NSR),” Pincus said. “The United States Navy doesn’t have ice-strengthened surface vessels, period.”

[Jim Hunt]

It seems Mike Pompeo is keen on the idea of sending a US Navy vessel through the Northwest Passage this summer

In other (related?) news:

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced a renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. As a first step, this renewal will provide up to 18 new large ships built in Canadian shipyards, helping the Coast Guard continue to deliver its important services, and creating good, middle class jobs across the country.

https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2019/05/22/prime-minister-announces-renewal-canadian-coast-guard-fleet

[Jim Hunt]

Moli (Mo for short) is an interesting "small vessel" intending to travel through the Northwest Passage this summer. Piloted singlehandedly by Randall Reeves she has already circumnavigated Antarctica and is hell bent on circumnavigating America too:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2019/05/the-northwest-passage-in-2019/

According to Randall's last but one update he'll be stopping in St. Johns before heading for the Arctic Circle:

“Have you explained why your first stop is St John’s?” asked a friend recently, “Not New York, Boston, Camden, Lunenberg, Halifax, to name just, well, five?”

It is a good question, and the answer is simple: I never considered going anywhere else because a) St John’s is decidedly on the Figure 8 route and b) it has the required marine facilities and big grocery stores. And did I mention, it’s right on the route?

Actually, I did flirt briefly with the idea of Boston, thinking that goods there would be cheaper and marine facilities, more diverse. And though it does save some 500 miles of sailing on this inbound leg, Boston is so far west that it adds 1,000 miles to the leg up to the Arctic. So, I’ve decided to stick to the most logical stop.

St. John’s is less than a thousand miles north now. In any worthy wind, we’d be there before the end of the month. But when your average speed is 3.9 knots…you don’t do the when-do-we-make-port math.

Interestingly the background to Moli's live tracking map is Windy.tv:

[Tor Bejnar]

I'm reminded of Matt Rutherford's record-setting circum-Americas voyage. (See August 9, 2011 comment on ASIB)  I followed Matt's voyage from then, but hadn't visited the http://solotheamericas.org/ website since about 2014, so I didn't know about the movie “Red Dot on the Ocean". 

[HapHazard]

In other (related?) news:

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced a renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. As a first step, this renewal will provide up to 18 new large ships built in Canadian shipyards, helping the Coast Guard continue to deliver its important services, and creating good, middle class jobs across the country.

https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2019/05/22/prime-minister-announces-renewal-canadian-coast-guard-fleet

Further info:

http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2019/06/10/davie-shipyard-canada-polar-icebreaker/

To help support these additional requirements, the Government of Canada is launching a competitive process to add a third Canadian shipyard as a strategic source of supply to help ensure the timely delivery of additional vessels to the federal fleet.

We have the design completed and are confident that when it is built, the new polar icebreaker will be a great addition to the fleet in support of Arctic sovereignty and northern science research.

As well as the polar icebreakers (of which two are required), there are approximately 10 other medium and heavy icebreakers required by the Canadian Coast Guard...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCGS_John_G._Diefenbaker

CCGS John G. Diefenbaker is the name for a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker that is expected to join the fleet in 2021–2022.

John G. Diefenbaker will be classified by Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Her ice class is Polar Class 2, the second highest ice class according to the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Unified Requirements for Polar Class Ships. Furthermore, the class notation Icebreaker(+) will result in additional structural strengthening based on analysis of the vessel's operational profile potential ice loading scenarios. John G. Diefenbaker is one of the first vessels to hold this class notation.
John G. Diefenbaker is designed to break level ice with a thickness of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) and with a 30-centimetre (12 in) snow cover at over 3 knots. In terms of icebreaking capability, this ranks her just below the largest Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers.

[Sebastian Jones]

Moli (Mo for short) is an interesting "small vessel" intending to travel through the Northwest Passage this summer. Piloted singlehandedly by Randall Reeves she has already circumnavigated Antarctica and is hell bent on circumnavigating America too:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2019/05/the-northwest-passage-in-2019/

According to Randall's last but one update he'll be stopping in St. Johns before heading for the Arctic Circle:

“Have you explained why your first stop is St John’s?” asked a friend recently, “Not New York, Boston, Camden, Lunenberg, Halifax, to name just, well, five?”

It is a good question, and the answer is simple: I never considered going anywhere else because a) St John’s is decidedly on the Figure 8 route and b) it has the required marine facilities and big grocery stores. And did I mention, it’s right on the route?

Actually, I did flirt briefly with the idea of Boston, thinking that goods there would be cheaper and marine facilities, more diverse. And though it does save some 500 miles of sailing on this inbound leg, Boston is so far west that it adds 1,000 miles to the leg up to the Arctic. So, I’ve decided to stick to the most logical stop.

St. John’s is less than a thousand miles north now. In any worthy wind, we’d be there before the end of the month. But when your average speed is 3.9 knots…you don’t do the when-do-we-make-port math.

Interestingly the background to Moli's live tracking map is Windy.tv:

Mol has docked at Halifax Nova Scotia, where Randall is being feted by the Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
Apparently a combination of wear and tear and a flotilla of ice bergs south of Newfoundland decided him to alter course. He is re-fitting and awaiting the melting of the Northwest Passage that Gerontocrat assures us is likely this summer

[Tor Bejnar]

I realized I could watch the 1-hour version of the movie, and just watched it with my social worker wife.  This link might work only in the USA. Once there I clicked on the "Watch the one-hour PTV version on line" button. It's a great documentary about turning an upside down life upside up, and there are images from the Arctic (of course).

I'm reminded of Matt Rutherford's record-setting circum-Americas voyage. (See August 9, 2011 comment on ASIB)  I followed Matt's voyage from then, but hadn't visited the http://solotheamericas.org/ website since about 2014, so I didn't know about the movie “Red Dot on the Ocean".

[Jim Hunt]

He is re-fitting and awaiting the melting of the Northwest Passage that Gerontocrat assures us is likely this summer

Actually I reckon it's likely this summer too, albeit not a certainty. There's still plenty of "old ice" in the vicinity of "Amundsen's route".

[NACK]

2007, 2012, 2016...

I think next year (2020) is the big melt year that will open all seven routes per the approx 4 year cycle above and this melt is a preconditioining year; we'll see...

Downloadable spreadsheet at the bottom of this link shows all the transits up until 2017 (there are 287 listed):

http://thenorthwestpassage.info/transits

[Jim Hunt]

Cross posting from the "Melting Season" thread. Bellot Strait appears to be largely free of sea ice already:

[Jim Hunt]

See also this new poll:

"When will the Northwest Passage "open" in 2019?"

[NACK]

This image was posted on the melting season thread:

https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2591.0;attach=123534;image

Looks like sometime in the near future we will have a NWP Route #8:

From the Bering Strait, follow the crack along the north side of the CAA around Ellesmere and then slide down through the Nares..and into Baffin Bay.

[Jim Hunt]

Looks like sometime in the near future we will have a NWP Route #8:

Another job for the plucky little yacht Northabout?

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2018/08/could-northabout-circumnavigate-greenland-in-2018/

[vox_mundi]

Flashback Friday: Opening the Northwest Passage, August 1969
https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/flashback-friday-opening-the-northwest-passage-august-1969/



S.S. Manhattan off Baffin Island, 1969. Before the Trans-Alaska pipeline, oil companies took a shot at delivering Prudhoe Bay oil by tanker via the Northwest Passage. A 65-foot ice-breaking bow was added to the six-year-old 940-foot supertanker Manhattan, and she made the historic east-to-west passage as the first commercial vessel ever to do so. But there were problems beyond ice. Canada claimed rights to the waterway, and natives had to grant permission for the passage.

Manhattan's route began in August 1969 on the east coast of North America and transited the passage from east to west via the Baffin Sea and Viscount Melville Sound. The master of Manhattan was Captain Roger A. Steward. Heavy sea ice blocked the way through M'Clure Strait, so a more southerly route through Prince of Wales Strait and south of Banks Island was used. A single, token barrel of crude oil was loaded at Prudhoe Bay and then the ship went back. She was escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS John A. Macdonald. At various times during the expedition, Manhattan was supported by the icebreakers CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, USCGC Staten Island, and USCGC Northwind.

The official reason for the voyage revolved around oil that had been discovered at Prudhoe Bay in 1968. Oil companies reasoned that sea transport of oil by icebreaking supertankers would be cheaper than the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to Valdez. A second attempt to cross the passage in winter proved impossible, and there were numerous environmental concerns with the project, so it was cancelled and the Trans-Alaska pipeline built.

https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/ss-manhattan-breaks-through
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Manhattan_(1962)

[Jim Hunt]

Some alternative interpretations concerning whether the Northwest Passage is currently "open" or not.

MODIS v CIS/RADARSAT2  v MASIE v AMSR2

Discuss!

[Jim Hunt]

Discuss!

According to the Canadian Ice Service the weather in the vicinity of the Bellot and Franklin Straits was "overcast" yesterday. MODIS agrees, whilst AMSR2 attempts to see through the clouds:

https://go.nasa.gov/33trfJa

[Jim Hunt]

Following closely behind CCGS Terry Fox, MS Bremen successfully sailed south through Peel Sound and into Franklin Strait on August 12th:

[Jim Hunt]

Yesterday's Sentinel 1 image of the Franklin/Bellot Straits region:



Plus the Canadian Ice Service map for the Queen Maud Gulf:

[Jim Hunt]

A still unidentified (by me at least) "pleasure craft" has made it past the western entrance of Bellot Strait and into Franklin Strait. Based on the CIS and Marine Traffic maps it looks as though they sheltered on the west coast of Somerset Island whilst the 8/10 concentration "Orange G" area of sea ice drifted north past them.

A few more "yachts" are currently heading south through Peel Sound. See also Breskell's tracking map:

https://us0-share.inreach.garmin.com/SailingwithJosh

[Sebastian Jones]

I'm excited, happy and somewhat nervous to see that my cousin Randall Reeves is heading south down Peel Sound. She won't be the first small boat to transit the NWP this year, but I'm quite sure Moli will be the only one to have circumnavigated Antarctica along the way from San Francisco!
http://figure8voyage.com/figure-8-map/

[Lord M Vader]

The southern route of the Northwest Passage, Amundsens route is now more or less navigable. A few floes remains in the eastern part of the route but should melting out soon. Look at todays view at EOSDIS NASA satellite pic.