Support the Arctic Sea Ice Forum and Blog

Author Topic: Northern Sea Route thread  (Read 150195 times)

BenB

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 283
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 51
  • Likes Given: 13
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #100 on: July 26, 2017, 01:02:45 PM »
The Northern Sea Route seems to be pretty much open now:



Perhaps technically a little more melt is needed around Severnaya Zemlya, but the ice there is disappearing quickly, and I suspect that many ships would have no problem getting through already:


Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #101 on: July 26, 2017, 02:23:51 PM »
I suspect that many ships would have no problem getting through already.

No problem if following 50 Let Pobedy! An unaccompanied yacht might prefer to wait a little longer however?
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

BenB

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 283
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 51
  • Likes Given: 13
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #102 on: July 26, 2017, 04:31:52 PM »
Not so much thinking of yachts as commercial shipping with a high ice class. If you look on Modis there seems to be a route through Vilkitsky Strait, but perhaps too much ice around for anyone to risk it yet. The ice is going pretty quickly, anyway.

gerontocrat

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 20378
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 5289
  • Likes Given: 69
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #103 on: July 26, 2017, 04:52:41 PM »
I don't think the Russkies will worry about a few scratches on the ships in their convoys. (Many years ago I met some Russian trawlermen in West Africa, having a break from Arctic Fishing to raid African waters. They were great company but totally nuts). And Russia does have 40 icebreakers to assist. But isn't there a database somewhere that tracks all registered shipping?
"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

BenB

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 283
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 51
  • Likes Given: 13
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #104 on: July 26, 2017, 04:55:20 PM »
There's this one:

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:103.3/centery:74.5/zoom:3

Plenty of ships in the general area, but none that are obviously on their way through from Europe to Asia or vice-versa yet.

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #105 on: July 26, 2017, 05:11:42 PM »
But isn't there a database somewhere that tracks all registered shipping?

There certainly is. Permissions:

http://www.nsra.ru/en/razresheniya/

Movements:

http://www.nsra.ru/en/grafik_dvijeniya_po_smp/

"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

BenB

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 283
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 51
  • Likes Given: 13
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #106 on: July 27, 2017, 10:13:10 AM »
Apparently the GEORGIY USHAKOV is heading from Arkhangelsk to Khatanga, due to arrive on the 2nd of August:

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:347497/mmsi:273338250/imo:9210335/vessel:GEORGIY_USHAKOV

That would mean travelling through Vitilsky, if accurate. The Mikhail Kutuzov is also showing on the live map as heading towards Taicang in China, which would also probably mean taking the Northern Sea Route. However the live map  isn't confirmed by the page for the vessel, which still has it in Arkhangelsk. We shall see.

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #107 on: July 27, 2017, 11:39:28 AM »
Meanwhile Yamal reports that it's "Waiting the approach of ships"
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #108 on: July 28, 2017, 01:23:46 AM »
Yamal is now heading in the direction of the Vilkitsky Strait in the company of Angrap, Boris Vilkitsky and Yaroslav the Wise. The latter is heading for Pevek:
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #109 on: July 28, 2017, 03:41:08 PM »
What makes Yaraslov so wise?  :o

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #110 on: July 28, 2017, 03:49:13 PM »
What makes Yaraslov so wise?

Here's his life story:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslav_the_Wise

Apparently:

Quote
Nestor the Chronicler and later Russian historians often presented him as a model of virtue, styling him "the Wise".
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #111 on: July 30, 2017, 07:57:35 PM »
Yamal and followers have made it through the Vilkitsky Strait:
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Quantum

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 101
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #112 on: July 30, 2017, 09:38:19 PM »
But since Yamal is an icebreaker, does this really count as the northern sea route being open? To me it seems we still have a few days to wait before it can be described as open in the colloquial sense.

cesium62

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 330
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 33
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #113 on: July 30, 2017, 09:56:47 PM »
But since Yamal is an icebreaker, does this really count as the northern sea route being open? To me it seems we still have a few days to wait before it can be described as open in the colloquial sense.

And then, do we need to consider whether it actually broke (or pushed aside) any ice, versus just being along for extra insurance?

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #114 on: July 31, 2017, 12:42:45 PM »
But since Yamal is an icebreaker, does this really count as the northern sea route being open?

Not in my book, but apparently other people's mileage varies:

http://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,1834.msg119308.html#msg119308
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #115 on: August 03, 2017, 12:00:23 PM »
From a Total press release:

Quote
After loading its cargo at the Snøhvit LNG export terminal in Norway, in which Total has an 18.4% interest, the Christophe de Margerie is taking the Northern Sea Route to Boryeong in South Korea, where it will deliver a cargo for Total Gas & Power. It’s the first unescorted merchant LNG vessel ever to take this route, which makes it possible to reach Asia via the Bering Strait in 15 days versus 30 days via the Suez Canal.

This technological feat was made possible through the participation of Total teams to the design of these next-generation LNG carriers. Compilations of technology, they efficiently transport large quantities of LNG year-round, without requiring escort icebreakers during the period from July to November. The Christophe de Margerie is the first of a total of 15 planned LNG carriers that will be gradually deployed.



"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

gerontocrat

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 20378
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 5289
  • Likes Given: 69
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #116 on: August 03, 2017, 01:22:39 PM »
Unescorted tankers from July to November? Watch out for GACs ?

One day some company or other will go "a bridge too far"? Hubris is the normal human condition.
"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #117 on: August 03, 2017, 01:35:59 PM »
Unescorted tankers from July to November? Watch out for GACs ?

One day some company or other will go "a bridge too far"?

Which brings me neatly on to "Search & Rescue" and the new IMO Polar Code:

http://GreatWhiteCon.info/2017/08/what-opening-arctic-sea-routes-mean-for-the-uk/

Avoiding the use of heavy fuel oil is mandatory in the Antarctic, but merely "encouraged" in the Arctic.
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #118 on: August 03, 2017, 04:23:36 PM »
Unescorted tankers from July to November? Watch out for GACs ?

One day some company or other will go "a bridge too far"? Hubris is the normal human condition.

Yes, but an LNG tanker crash would have a less long lasting environmental impact than oil.

Things go BOOM!!!!

gerontocrat

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 20378
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 5289
  • Likes Given: 69
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #119 on: August 03, 2017, 05:37:46 PM »
Unescorted tankers from July to November? Watch out for GACs ?

One day some company or other will go "a bridge too far"? Hubris is the normal human condition.

Yes, but an LNG tanker crash would have a less long lasting environmental impact than oil.

Things go BOOM!!!!
Where LNG goes so will crude (under a flag of convenience?)
"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #120 on: August 05, 2017, 11:40:46 PM »
Jim
Does the Christophe de Margerie burn LNG, as most or all of the more conventional tankers do? They, even if accompanied by one of the modern mammoth Russian nuclear icebreakers, shouldn't leave too much of a mess behind.
It was a shame when Total's CEO was killed in that horrible accident. He was the only head of a major energy company that seemed to have a real understanding of global warming and what could be done to ameliorate it.
Terry

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #121 on: August 06, 2017, 01:27:47 AM »
Does the Christophe de Margerie burn LNG

According to:

http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/christophe-de-margerie-class-icebreaking-lng-carriers/

Quote
The icebreaking LNG carrier will be powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system consisting of four 12-cylinder and two nine-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF diesel fuel engines, as well as an electric propulsion system.

The four-stroke Wärtsilä 50DF engines, which run on LNG and light or heavy fuel oils, deliver a total power output of 64.35MW.

I know not what fuel is used in practice.
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Adam Ash

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 311
    • View Profile
    • The 100 metre line
  • Liked: 10
  • Likes Given: 23
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #122 on: August 06, 2017, 05:04:00 AM »
From a Total press release:




Could one be forgiven for imagining that the  Christophe de Margerie is running astern in that photo?  Else the ice is healing up very quickly behind her, and opening obligingly ahead!

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/212611000

The sun/shadow angle looks about right for travelling towards Bering Straight at around 10:00hrs.  (If its 22:00hrs then she's going the wrong way, yes Ship Tracker shows her approaching Bering Straight)
« Last Edit: August 06, 2017, 05:10:43 AM by Adam Ash »

Ninebelowzero

  • New ice
  • Posts: 86
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #123 on: August 06, 2017, 06:09:07 AM »
.....Could one be forgiven for imagining that the  Christophe de Margerie is running astern in that photo?  Else the ice is healing up very quickly behind her, and opening obligingly ahead.....


One of a fleet of specially designed ships for operations in the high arctic.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_acting_ship

Ninebelowzero

  • New ice
  • Posts: 86
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #124 on: August 10, 2017, 08:18:09 AM »
In terms of the Northern Sea route being open to these ships according to Yamal operations from Sabetta will be year round with the East route being utilized from July to December, The full fleet of 15 will be in operation by the end of 2020, which is a lot of LNG.


http://www.scf-group.ru/en/fleet/business_scope/projects/item1658.html


Is LNG the most "environmentally friendly" of the three fuels it can use?


RoxTheGeologist

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 625
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 188
  • Likes Given: 149
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #125 on: August 10, 2017, 04:07:35 PM »

LNG is the most environmentally friendly of the fossil fuels. It has a high hydrogen to carbon ratio so the grams of CO2 emitted per MJ of energy is relatively low, and it is relatively clean burning

Bunker fuel is actually bloody awful stuff. It has no sulfur spec globally, and is responsible for a significant percentage of criteria emissions.

Phil.

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 540
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 76
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #126 on: August 10, 2017, 06:19:40 PM »
In terms of the Northern Sea route being open to these ships according to Yamal operations from Sabetta will be year round with the East route being utilized from July to December, The full fleet of 15 will be in operation by the end of 2020, which is a lot of LNG.


http://www.scf-group.ru/en/fleet/business_scope/projects/item1658.html


Is LNG the most "environmentally friendly" of the three fuels it can use?


The link says it uses diesel.

gerontocrat

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 20378
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 5289
  • Likes Given: 69
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #127 on: August 10, 2017, 06:54:55 PM »
I is  confused. Are these 15 ships carrying LNG or using LNG as fuel or both.
"I want to know!"
"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

Phil.

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 540
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 76
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #128 on: August 10, 2017, 07:03:00 PM »
I is  confused. Are these 15 ships carrying LNG or using LNG as fuel or both.
"I want to know!"

Carrying LNG.

ARCTIC LNG CARRIER FOR THE YAMAL LNG PROJECT
Length:   299 metres
Width:   50 metres
Draught (Loading):   11.8 metres
Capacity and type of propulsion system:   3х15 megawatts, diesel-electric ship with three rudder propellers
Ice-breaking capability:   Up to 2.1 m in floe ice when navigating stern-first

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #129 on: August 10, 2017, 07:09:45 PM »

Scroll up Phil:

Quote
The four-stroke Wärtsilä 50DF engines, which run on LNG and light or heavy fuel oils, deliver a total power output of 64.35MW.
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Phil.

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 540
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 76
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #130 on: August 10, 2017, 10:23:48 PM »

Scroll up Phil:

Quote
The four-stroke Wärtsilä 50DF engines, which run on LNG and light or heavy fuel oils, deliver a total power output of 64.35MW.

The spec. in the link says it's a diesel engine.  Further reading says that the fuel oil is supplemented with LNG boil-off, so it uses both.  :-)
As I understand it the engines are usually run with between 15 and 85% gas.

Quantum

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 101
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #131 on: August 10, 2017, 11:38:22 PM »
Still looks closed, although it can't be long now. My normal method is to trace a clear path on MODIS but I can't see cloud atm so I've made do with 1km MASIE.



Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #132 on: August 11, 2017, 10:05:09 AM »
Hey Quantum - Was it you my alter ego "Snow White" recently bumped into on Twitter?

Elucidating "her" cryptic message. Gotta link to your source? "She" knows where it came from, but probably most of your readers do not.
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Quantum

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 101
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #133 on: August 11, 2017, 04:31:54 PM »
Hey Quantum - Was it you my alter ego "Snow White" recently bumped into on Twitter?

Elucidating "her" cryptic message. Gotta link to your source? "She" knows where it came from, but probably most of your readers do not.
1km pngs are here: http://masie_web.apps.nsidc.org/pub/DATASETS/NOAA/G02186/png/1km/

Hefaistos

  • Guest
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #134 on: August 12, 2017, 02:36:50 PM »
On the economic rationale of the NSR, cutting travel time by 40%:
“The Northern Sea Route cuts the travel time from Europe to Asia by a hefty 40 percent and the Christophe de Margerie will cover this distance in just 15 days. Yamal LNG will start sending liquefied gas via the Northern Sea Route before this year is out, and by 2019 it is set to become the biggest liquefied natural gas producer in the world,”

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201708121056402028-russia-lng-shipments/

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #135 on: August 12, 2017, 08:44:17 PM »
On the economic rationale of the NSR, cutting travel time by 40%:
“The Northern Sea Route cuts the travel time from Europe to Asia by a hefty 40 percent and the Christophe de Margerie will cover this distance in just 15 days. Yamal LNG will start sending liquefied gas via the Northern Sea Route before this year is out, and by 2019 it is set to become the biggest liquefied natural gas producer in the world,”

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201708121056402028-russia-lng-shipments/


An interesting article. If Poland is insisting that American LNG be competitive with Russian gas out of the pipe, as well as Qatar's LNG, their's little or no room for profit. Shipping fraked LNG half way round the world can't work in a free market. Geographical reality remains a factor.


Shipping Russian and Norwegian LNG to SE Asia in 15 days will cut into hopes of Canadian and American LNG sales in that direction. I suppose we'll have to add Norway to the list of European Nations being negatively effected by the so called Russian sanctions.


Who will be left supplying fuel to Ukraine after Russia pulls out in 2019? They have a poor credit history.
Terry

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #136 on: August 14, 2017, 12:26:07 AM »
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201708131056423090-russia-navy-arctic/

Quote
Northern Fleet ships are sailing for the Arctic under a combat training plan, Captain First Class Vadim Serga, chief of the Northern Fleet press service, told RIA Novosti.

"Today, a unit consisting of several Northern Fleet warships and support vessels sailed from Severomorsk to the Barents Sea under a combat training plan and set course for the eastern Arctic," Serga said.

The unit includes the anti-submarine ship Severomorsk, the landing ships Kondopoga, Alexander Otrakovsky and Georgy Pobedonosets (St. George the Victorious), the rescue tug Pamir and a mooring vessel.
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Adam Ash

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 311
    • View Profile
    • The 100 metre line
  • Liked: 10
  • Likes Given: 23
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #137 on: August 14, 2017, 08:48:42 AM »
Who will be left supplying fuel to Ukraine after Russia pulls out in 2019? They have a poor credit history.
Terry
Who?  The USofA conspired to crash the Ukraine, then have recently convinced the nut cases in Kiev to blockade coal from the eastern coal fields as if it was a way to harm the opposition there.  So then, who will the Ukraine get its energy from?  Why!  From the USofA of course, at great expense. 
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-usa-coal-idUSKBN1AG208

Ukraine has no money so USofA will lend them the money so increasing the indebtedness of said sorry country and its thrall to USofA.  And the Fascist Yankee puppets in Ukraine will be party to the contracts and will rake a big slice off the top before the poor babushkas get the chance to fill their coal scuttles at prices they cannot afford. 

All very circular and obvious. In the mean time of course Ukraine's ability to earn any foreign income has tanked.  Its a basket case and only good as a cheap training ground for useless yankee tank crews.  etc etc.

Neven

  • Administrator
  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 9470
    • View Profile
    • Arctic Sea Ice Blog
  • Liked: 1333
  • Likes Given: 617
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #138 on: August 16, 2017, 12:35:59 AM »
Adam, this is off-topic and more suited to the Russiagate thread, or some such.
The enemy is within
Don't confuse me with him

E. Smith

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #139 on: August 16, 2017, 01:24:29 AM »
Adam, this is off-topic and more suited to the Russiagate thread, or some such.


My bad Neven. I read the Hefaistos link and got carried away.


I think the opening of the Northern Route is one of the very few good things that is emerging from  melting Arctic Seas. The NW Passage is fraught with difficulties from the US's insistence that it is an international waterway, to the Canadian Government's lack of built up infrastructure. The Law of the Sea says it's Canadian, the Americans refuse to sign the treaty. Russia ain't the enemy here, they signed early on.


Russian nuclear icebreakers are as close to non-polluting as we're liable to get, and her investment in repair, rescue, and restocking harbors should favor this route until the polar route is open to everyone.
It's sad that she feels the need to protect it militarily, but the times are as they are.


Shipments are moving between Europe and the Orient, and until the High Speed Rail lines are complete this shortcut through the Arctic saves many tons of CO2 - and some money.


Terry

Adam Ash

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 311
    • View Profile
    • The 100 metre line
  • Liked: 10
  • Likes Given: 23
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #140 on: August 16, 2017, 05:40:33 AM »
Sorry boss! 
In an effort to redeem myself...

'Washington state dealt a blow Tuesday to the last remaining coal export terminal proposed along the West Coast, throwing the viability of the project into question.' 
JAN 4, 2017, 4:39 PM

http://www.hcn.org/issues/48.21/plans-falter-for-west-coast-coal-terminals

So it seems that routes to Asia for USA coal are likely to come from the East Coast USA.
 
From the coal docks at Baltimore to Tokyo Bay its..
18,400 km via Panama Canal - plus canal fees and delays and ship size limitations.
16,000 km via Davis Straight and the direct North West Passage route through Bering Straight
18,800 km via the Eastern Sea Route hugging the via coast Karskiey, Vilkitsky, Sannikov, De Long and Bering Straights
So the ESR is only a trivially-longer trip from the East Coast USA to a destination in Asia than via Panama, and it avoids the size and cost limitations of the Panama Canal.
Would definitely make sense to go via the Arctic, with a clear time/distance preference for the North West Passage if there were ice-free water and the local infrastructure for a safe voyage.
« Last Edit: August 16, 2017, 06:48:23 AM by Adam Ash »

Rob Dekker

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2386
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 119
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #141 on: August 16, 2017, 09:15:56 AM »
Adam Ash. No.
Transporting coal via the Northern Sea Route is like adding insult to injury.
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

Rob Dekker

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2386
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 119
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #142 on: August 16, 2017, 09:25:34 AM »
Terry said :
Quote
The Law of the Sea says it's Canadian

No it doesn't.
Quote
Territorial waters or a territorial sea, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) from the baseline (usually the mean low-water mark) of a coastal state.

Anything outside this 12 miles range is 'international waters' where "no State may validly purport to subject any part of them to its sovereignty".

This is something neither Canada (who claims the entire NWP is theirs but doesn't act if you cross it) nor Russia (charges a fee and shoots at you if you want to cross the Northern Sea Route without their permission, even if you are more than 12 miles from the coast) disputes.

See the contradictions with the Law of the Sea from both Canada and Russia in this ?
And how they differ ?
« Last Edit: August 16, 2017, 09:57:43 AM by Rob Dekker »
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

ghoti

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 767
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 12
  • Likes Given: 15
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #143 on: August 16, 2017, 03:51:06 PM »
Territory generally now includes water over continental shelves. Most countries recognize this but notably the US does not because they insist they can send their warships to within 12 miles of any country.

Adam Ash

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 311
    • View Profile
    • The 100 metre line
  • Liked: 10
  • Likes Given: 23
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #144 on: August 16, 2017, 04:28:47 PM »
Adam Ash. No.
Transporting coal via the Northern Sea Route is like adding insult to injury.
Oh yes indeed Rob!  Mankind will not go out with just a whimper!  We will leave a dreadful mess behind as our final convulsions destroy the diminishing supply of goodness with our increasing demands of badness. 

Rob Dekker

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2386
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 119
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #145 on: August 17, 2017, 09:31:42 AM »
Territory generally now includes water over continental shelves. Most countries recognize this but notably the US does not because they insist they can send their warships to within 12 miles of any country.

No ghoti.
The Laws of the Sea are very clear. There are no claims of 'territory' or 'sovereignty' beyond 12 miles.
http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf

It kind of makes sense too : In the olden days, pirates or rogue states claimed a certain part of the sea their own, and demanded one paid a fee to pass.

Luckily we have the UN now, and the Laws of the Sea, signed by all major states including the US.

As far as I know, Russia appears to be the only state to charge a fee if you want to pass the international waters along their coast (along the Northern Sea Route), and shoots at you if you don't...
« Last Edit: August 17, 2017, 09:39:03 AM by Rob Dekker »
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

Pavel

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 263
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 48
  • Likes Given: 9
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #146 on: August 17, 2017, 10:15:29 AM »
As far as I know, there's 200 miles border outward coast of the economy zone of a country. So according to this map, the one third of Arctic is Russia's economy zone

Richard Rathbone

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1730
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 387
  • Likes Given: 24
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #147 on: August 17, 2017, 12:29:00 PM »
There's an article on wikipedia about territorial waters. Its rather better sourced and explained than the OT posts here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters

gerontocrat

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 20378
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 5289
  • Likes Given: 69
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #148 on: August 17, 2017, 12:30:50 PM »
It is called the 200 mile exclusive economic area, and is about exploitation of the oceans. However, that does not normally apply to freedom of movement of ships outside the 12 mile limit, which is the limit of jurisdiction over shipping - power to arrest, for example. Beyond 12 miles, it is the Law of the Sea.

Russia is therefore using the old fashioned law "Power Gives The Right" to bully submission. And who can stop them ? No-one.
"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

Pavel

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 263
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 48
  • Likes Given: 9
Re: Northern Sea Route thread
« Reply #149 on: August 17, 2017, 12:45:54 PM »
Russia is therefore using the old fashioned law "Power Gives The Right" to bully submission. And who can stop them ? No-one.
I'm a russian, and here in Russia I 100500 times per day hear that US is the country using the old fashioned law "Power Gives The Right" to bully submission. And who can stop them ? Only mr Putin lol. Sorry for OT