Technological and environmental challenges of Arctic shipping—a case study of a fictional voyage in the Arctic

Abstract

Shipping in Arctic seas is challenging and poses an environmental risk. This paper presents a fictional case involving a multipurpose supply vessel transporting one large object (a 750-tonne compressor) and 24 containers loaded with chemicals and equipment for use by the petroleum industry in western Siberia. With technical details representative of vessels navigating the Arctic today, the fictitious ship Oleum has an ice class sufficient for navigating unaccompanied in the Barents and Kara seas, so no assistance is in range when, in late October, clogged fuel filters cause engine failure and the vessel eventually drifts ashore. Heeling over, Oleum loses both cargo and marine diesel oil. The scenario includes a successful helicopter rescue of the 16 crewmembers and a partial recovery of oil and chemicals by booms and skimmers. Recovery of chemicals with physical properties not allowing mechanical collection is not attempted. The scenario ends as the abandoned wreck is broken down at the stranding location, and containers rupture and discharge their cargo. The scenario postulates a moderate and short-lived environmental impact. The most visible effects of the grounding are the hull itself, the compressor and the spreading effects and degradation of oil and chemicals unmanageable for the clean-up operations.

• Arctic shipping
• technology
• scenario
• grounding
• Northern Sea Route
• environmental impact.

To access the supplementary material for this article, please see the supplementary file under Article Tools, online.

To access the supplementary material for this article, please see the supplementary file under Article Tools, online.

Acknowledgements

The MV Oleum scenario is part of A-LEX: Regulating Arctic Shipping—Political, Technological and Environmental Challenges, a Fram Centre research project funded by the research flagship programme Sea Ice in the Arctic Ocean, Technology and Agreements, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NORRUS programme of the Research Council of Norway. The authors would like to thank Chris Emblow for providing language advice and drafting Fig. 1, and Brage Mo, Anders Valland, Dag Stenersen and Ingebrigt Valberg for assistance in developing a relevant scenario for the machinery failures.

Notes

To access the supplementary material for this article, please see the supplementary file under Article Tools, online.