Greenpeace’s vessel «Arctic Sunrise» has been released after nearly nine months of detention in Murmansk, following the organization’s demonstration against Arctic drilling in the Pechora Sea last fall.
REYKJAVIK: Transit cargo between Europe and Asia plummets, but cargo to and from Russian ports along the Northern Sea Route is increasing considerably, Deputy Minister of Transport Olersky says..
Denmark and Greenland intend to establish an Arctic military command structure, boost oil and gas drilling and claim sovereignty of the North Pole, the country’s draft Arctic Strategy reads.
Two first oil-tankers left Murmansk for record early voyage along the Northern Sea Route as the Arctic sea ice has melted faster this year than ever recorded before.
Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) will soon depart from Longyearbyen, Svalbard on a research mission to the Arctic using the Swedish icebreaker Oden.
First ever tanker loaded with liquid natural gas (LNG) sails the Northern Sea Route with gas from Norway to energy hungry Japan. “New development,” says Gunnar Sander with the Norwegian Polar Institute.
The administration of the Northern Sea Route will be managed from two offices, one in Moscow and one in Arkhangelsk, according to Arkhangelsk Governor Igor Orlov.
Iceland’s President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson announces establishment of a new assembly for international cooperation on Arctic issues that can give non-Arctic countries like China, India and Singapore a forum for influence in the region.
After a warm July the extent of sea ice large parts of the Northern Sea Route is below average and vessels are sailing parts of the route without icebreaker escort.
MURMANSK: State Duma Deputy Maxim Shingarkin proposes that all Arctic states should adopt common laws for environmental standards as the top of the world opens for oil drilling. In the mean-time, bureaucratic problems hinder cross-border oil-spill preparedness.
