Melting ice makes Norway approach Asia

The northernmost town of Kirkenes in Norway was farther away from Asia than any other European port, but suddenly the gap between them narrowed significantly due to melting ice due to climate change.

Melting ice has opened the North Sea maritime route along Russia's Arctic coast, changing its international trade activities more deeply.

In a revolutionary change, travel time between Japan's Yokohama port and Hamburg port in Germany has been cut by 40%, while reducing fuel consumption by 20%.

Sturla Henriksen, chairman of the Norwegian Shipowners Association, declared: "For the first time in history, we are witnessing a new sea route deep north, which has a significant impact on the whole field. trade and fuel reserves ".

The melting of ice caused boat owners to consider a shorter sea route through the Norwegian town of Kirkenes to Asia.

In 2012, when the ice sheet narrowed to a record low of 3.4 million square kilometers, 46 ships used a new route while the figure in 2010 was 4, according to Rosatomflot's icebreaker coordinator. Russia.

Transportation through this seaway is still negligible compared to traditional transport routes. On average, ships transiting the Panama Strait 15,000 times a year, while traveling through the Suez Canal about 19,000 times a year.

However, the volume of goods transported along the North Sea maritime route seems to grow strongly in the coming years, from 1.26 million tons last year to 50 million tons in 2020, according to the Association's forecast. Norwegian owners.

The town of Kirkenes, home to 3,400 people and almost engulfed in endless darkness throughout the winter months, is eagerly awaiting a new boom. The transport group Tschudi plans to open a logistics center that is equivalent to 200 football fields in a fjord that surrounds the town, where no ice appears due to the warm bay of ocean currents.

The new maritime service also opens up an attractive market for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exploited in the Barents Sea, especially after North America refused to use the area's available shale gas.

On the other hand, Asia's gas demand has also increased after the catastrophe leak at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011. Gas prices in the continent are also significantly higher than in Europe. Each train carrying liquefied natural gas via the North Sea maritime route may be up to $ 7 million cheaper than shipping via the Suez Canal.