Arctic Shipping Issues

Important environmental, economic and national security issues are emerging in the Arctic and adjacent Alaskan waters from global climate change. The melting of ice is resulting in interest in newly accessible shipping lanes, the exploration and exploitation of oil, gas and other natural resources and corresponding concerns regarding environmental assessment and protection. A number of international institutions are considering these issues including the Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization. The Arctic Council offsite link has six working groups offsite link: Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) offsite link, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) offsite link, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) offsite link, Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) offsite link, Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), offsite link and Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) offsite link.

Additional reference information: 

• NOAA Arctic web site.
• Arctic Calendar of NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration: Includes related conferences, events, and deadlines
• 08/05/08. Megan Campbell, U.S. Arctic Ocean Management paper.
• The National Ice Center
• UNEP Regional Seas Programme: Arctic offsite link
• the "Arctic Is" Web site offsite link
• Arctic Governance offsite link web site
• The Arctic Council offsite link and its six working groups:
  • Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) offsite link
  • Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) offsite link
  • Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) offsite link
  • Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) offsite link
  • Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) offsite link
  • Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) offsite link
• International Arctic Science Committee offsite link
• Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (2004) offsite link
• Arctic Calendar of Events (conference list) offsite link
• International Polar Year offsite link
• U.S. State Department, Article: "Establishment of the Arctic Council"
• State Department – Arctic
• IMO, "Guidelines For Ships Operating in the Arctic" (Dec. 23, 2002).
• IMO, Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters offsite link (Jan. 18, 2010)
• The Encyclopedia Arctica offsite link
• Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, as amended
• Presidential Memo, Arctic Research and Policy Act (July 22, 2010)
• Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
• U.S. Geological Survey, Arctic Research Page
• International Report offsite link on the State of the Arctic Coast (April 2011)