[030413.EN.SEA] Alaska's Arctic Shipping Report To Prepare For Ship Volume Increases

THE newly formed Alaska Arctic Policy Commission is to launch a study on the impact of increasing ocean shipping on the economy, environment and benefits to Alaskans and rural communities along shipping routes.

The study to be conducted by University of Alaska Fairbanks and funded by the State Department of Commerce at cost of US$200,000 to run over an 18-month period.

Alaska's Lt Gov Mead Treadwell said its key focus will be on how Alaskan communities can benefit from the increase in vessels. Currently, these carry oil, LNG and energy-related products, but is expected to increase in volume with vessels being largely unescorted by 2040.

"We want to find out if there is anything that trade can do to make the cost of energy less in coastal Alaska," said Mr Treadwell, reported from Alaska Dispatch on a study, which will look at how the country can capitalise from these opportunities while establishing a robust marine safety regime.

Contingency plans are needed, he added to make sure that vessels are tracked during transits and carry suitable response equipment to support agreements on accident response efforts.

For Alaska to face its biggest challenge, it must find cash to fund an Arctic market estimated to attract up to US$100 billion in energy projects.

Key decisions on where shipping ports should be located are to impact what kinds of infrastructure needed to support such expansion and what jobs, if any, the increase in Alaskan shipping, will create.

"We have to make sure it's an economic driver for Alaska," said Mr Treadwell.

The report recommends increasing US icebreaking capacity to increase its ability to respond to crisis situations and to join the controversial Law of the Sea Convention led by CMTS.

Public comments on the draft report available at CMTS.gov can be submitted up to April 22 to ArcticMTS@cmts.gov. The report can be seen at CMTS.gov.

Source : HKSG.