Adding 2016 to the post I did. Again its not perfect but I'm using the same methods I used for the other years to keep consistency. I'm saying the southern part of the NW route opened on the 9th August (see attachment).
Just for reference, the dates that the NW passage (southern and northern routes) and the northern route open for the last few years. I always think this is an interesting bit of information.
Reference for the NW passage routes above. Note in some cases the routes may close again, these are the approx dates they first opened.
2012Southern NW route: August 9th
Middle NW route: July 31st
Northern NW route: August 27th
Northern route: August 4th
2013Southern NW route: August 22nd
Middle NW route: Does not open
Northern NW route: Does not open
Northern route: August 29th
2014Southern NW route: August 30th
Middle NW route: Questionably around September 14th
Northern NW route: Does not open
Northern route: August 7th
2015Southern NW route: August 13th (taking a ridiculous maze like path around the ice though)
Middle NW route: September 8th
Northern NW route: September 8th
Northern route: July 31st
2016Southern NW route: August 9th
Middle NW route: -
Northern NW route: -
Northern route: -
So it opened on the same day as 2012 (although in 2012 the middle route had also opened remarkably by the 31st July), 4 days earlier than in 2015 and several weeks in advance of the other years. Its worth noting however at this point 3/4 of the examined routes in 2012 were open compared to just 1/4 so far in 2016, 2015, 2014 with only 2013 having all routes still closed at this point.
So in so far as the NW passage and N route in general goes; definitely less easy than 2012; definitely easier than 2013 and perhaps not yet clearly distinguishable from the other post '12 years.