Russian Roulette In The Arctic - Ice Wins Latest Battle
Biggest and most powerful vessel in the world cannot free ships stuck in ice. This has been 3 weeks already and they are still there. Shipping companies will give the Northern Sea Route a big miss as this is not a good advert for Russia.
Once a month I poke my nose in the the news and happenings around the Northern Sea Route. This as we all know if opened up would be a game changer for shipping as it cuts shipping times using the shorter route from East to West. The "if" is a very big "if" and look smore like pie in the sky as it all relies on climate change and the luck of the Gods.
The worlds most powerful ice breaker the nuclear powered Arktika has not been able to free the 4 vessels trapped and that was 3 weeks ago. The second nuclear ice breaker has just been built and is already on route to assist. The way the Russians were speaking earlier on in the year this would be a piece of cake keeping shipping moving.
Putin must realise that certain parts of the Northern Sea Route are just unworkable 365 days a year and has ordered a new railway line along with a new port to be constructed. Certain parts of the Barents Sea ice free and this is where they are looking to expand as they need to get their exports of raw materials moving. This was an extra project not on the high priority list that is now top priority. A cost of $2.6 Billion for the 500km new railway and Port of Indiga. The aim is to have products such as coal, timber and fertilizers heading to China and Japan by 2024. These are huge projects in an environment that is remote. This is how Russia is going toe expand as a new port means a new town is formed needing a population to sustain the work required..
One news item kept out of the world media was the near disaster of an oil spillage in the Arctic. This I think is what Russia fears the most as this is what could shut there whole Northern Sea Route down.
Guaranteed it is only a matter of time before we have some serious disaster occurring.
Two barges under tow carrying 7000 tons of diesel and 170 tons of paraffin ran aground on the island of Vaygach. The only reason we are hearing about it now is they managed to salvage the cargo avoiding a disaster. Both hulls were pierced by the rocks so there would have been some clean up required. The truth of how much was lost to the environment will be hush hush. I think when dealing with Russia who is so desperate for this to work this kind of media ban will apply for years to come.
People in the know saying towing barges into the wind is only asking for trouble as the sea spray turns to ice freezing on the deck. This accumulates very quickly when ice is already on the deck as spray then forms a new layer on the ice that is already formed. The barges had over half a meter of sea ice on board their decks and could easily have sunk if they had not run aground.
Most other countries would give up on this as only a madman or a desperate one at that would try and make this work. Beating the harshest elements in the world to mine and export what was never possible is not holding them back for now.
Putin telling the world the Northern sea Route due to climate change was a little premature and cannot back down now. Railway seems more plausible for all year trade as I don't see the shipping staying open 365 days per year until the super ice breakers are built which are still years off from joining the party.
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