Asian Shipyards Respond to Arctic Opportunities

The Arctic sea ice has refrozen after a relatively longer summer this year compared with 2011. There are encouraging reports for the shipping industry and it is believed that similar navigation conditions can be expected in the future due to global warming and shrinking of the Arctic ice cap during summer. However, it is the availability of icebreakers and ice-class ships will determine the future shipping activity through the Northern Sea Route. In fact the icebreakers hold the key to a successful voyage through the Arctic Ocean. These vessels are designed to plough through the ice and crack open a path. The others vessels follow the icebreaker in its wake and navigate though harsh icy sea conditions.