Arctic Ocean
Two Seattle-based Coast Guard Divers die in Arctic Ocean
Accoring to reports, two Seattle-based Coast Guard divers died Thursday while diving in the Arctic Ocean, about 500 miles north of Barrow, Alaska. Lt. Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque, 26, of Miami, were assigned to the Cutter Healy. The ship was on a scientific mission when the deaths occurred, according to the Coast Guard. Hill and Duque were on a practice dive familiarizing themselves with the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Coast Guard said. The cause of this dive accident is under investigation. The 420-foot Healy is one of three polar ice breakers operated by the Coast Guard. Healy is primarily used for Arctic science operations under sponsorship of the U.S. National Science Foundation. Source: Seattle Times
Chinese Icebreaker Transits Northern Sea Route
The icebreaker 'Xuelong' made the Arctic Ocean passage from China through to Norwegian waters. The Chinese icebreaker completed the Arctic North-East Passage marking the first such voyage by a Chinese vessel and opening an Arctic route connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic for future Chinese science expeditions. In completing the voyage, the icebreaker Xuelong or Snow Dragon channeled through five marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean: the Chukchi Sea, the East Siberian Sea, the Laptev Sea
Aker Arctic WinsShuttle Tanker Contract
Aker Arctic Technology of Finland and the St. Petersburg based FSUE Admiralty shipyards signed a contract for a license and design including classification package of two 70,000 dwt double-acting Arctic shuttle tankers, which the yard is building for ZAO Sevmorneftegaz for the Prirazlomnoye oil field in the Arctic Ocean. The ships are the largest tankers so far built by the yard and will be delivered towards the end of 2007 and respectively 2008.
Samsung Wins Tanker Contract
According to a Korea Herald report, Samsung Heavy Industries Co. won a $422.5 million deal to build three arctic tankers for Russian state-owned shipper Sovcomflot. Samsung is the first Korean shipbuilder to receive an order for ice-breaking oil-carriers. Sovcomflot plans to operate the artic tankers over the Barents Sea between the Varandiy oil well in the Arctic Ocean and Murmansk harbor in Russia, according to the report
USCGC HEALY Geophysical Survey
The National Science Foundation is making available a draft environmental assessment for the proposed marine geophysical survey to be conducted by the USCG icebreaker HEALY. Plans call for the HEALY to transit the Arctic Ocean from northern Alaska to Svalbard during the period 5 August to 30 September 2005. Scientific research, particularly sediment coring, will be conducted en route. While marine mammals will be encountered
U.S., Canadian Coast Guard Oil Spill Exercise
Representatives from the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, Arctic region stakeholders and established responders are scheduled to hold a joint “Canada - United States North” (CANUSNORTH) tabletop exercise March 16 and 17 at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. This biennial exercise provides an opportunity for all responders to work together to consult on local issues and improve communications and coordination for potential responses to pollution incidents in the contiguous
NOAA Meetings Arctic Oil & Gas Activities
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will conduct five scoping meetings to receive public comments on its planned environmental impact statement on the effects of oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean. Meeting will be held in Wainwright (March 9); Barrow (March 10); Nuiqsut (March 11); Kaktovik (March 12); and Anchorage (March 23). Written comments should be submitted by April 9. 75 Fed. Reg. 8304 (February 24, 2010).
Secretary Salazar Offshore Strategy
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that, as part of a comprehensive strategy for strengthening the nation’s energy security and reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, the Obama Administration will expand oil and gas development and exploration on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, while protecting fisheries, tourism and places off U.S. coasts that are not appropriate for development. “By responsibly expanding conventional energy development and
Esvagt Aurora Braves Barents Sea
MAN GenSet engines to power standby ship in harsh climate. On 26 July 2012, Zamakona Shipyard S.A. delivered the 87 m long standby vessel ‘Esvagt Aurora’ to the ESVAGT AS company, belonging to the Danish multinational A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group. The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric set-up featuring, among others, 4 × MAN 6L21/31 engines – 1,320 kWm per engine: this is the third vessel the Bilbao-based shipyard has built for the same client.
Arctic Research Ship Scientists on Thin Ice
Return to Bremerhaven: The research vessel 'Polarstern' returns with new findings from the Central Arctic during the 2012 ice minimum. After a good two months. 54 scientists and technicians from twelve different countries conducted research on the retreat of the sea ice and the consequences for the Arctic Ocean and its ecosystems Since its departure from Tromsø (Norway) on 2 August 2012 Polarstern has travelled some 12,000 kilometres and conducted research at 306 stations
Admiral Papp to Explain USCG Arctic Strategy at CSIS Forum
Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to address the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) forum on May 21, 2013. CSIS Europe Program will host a Military Strategy Forum on the Coast Guard's strategic vision for its future role in the Arctic
China Gains Formal Arctic Council Recognition
At the recent 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council, China and another 5 states were granted observer status in the organization. Founded in 1996, the group now has eight member states in the Arctic region, including Russia, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland
Arctic Council Sign Oil Spill Agreement
At their recent meeting the circumpolar states of the Arctic Council have agreed to tackle oil spill disasters as a team. The Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic—the Council’s second ever binding agreement—was signed by all
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Papp Reveals Arctic Strategy
Uncharted Ice: The U.S. Coast Guard's New Arctic Strategy. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Bob Papp today revealed the nation's and the Coast Guard's blueprint for Arctic strategy. Long awaited, today's speech at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C
DNV, Statoil Cooperate to Enhance Arctic Competence
DNV and Statoil are launching a competence program that aims to enhance the two organizations’ knowledge about particular Arctic challenges. “Due to Arctic-specific risks such as remoteness, darkness, ice and low temperatures
Sustainable Ocean Summit 2013
The Sustainable Ocean Summit 2013 (SOS 2013), organized by the World Ocean Council (WOC), is an international ocean business community gathering dedicated to industry leadership and collaboration in developing solutions to ocean sustainability challenges. Washington D.C. - April 22-24, 2013
Construction Engineering Work for OFSV Started At Vancouver Shipyards
Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) has started design work under the Construction Engineering Contract for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV). This contract will take a total of ten months to complete and lead to a build contract in early 2014.
NOAA Considers Effects of Arctic Oil and Gas Activities
NOAA is seeking comments on a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean. The draft, developed in collaboration with the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Fairmount Sherpa Delivered Rig Arctic I in Las Palmas
Tug Fairmount Sherpa has safely delivered rig GSF Arctic I in Las Palmas. The rig was towed from offshore Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. GSF Arctic I is a semi-submersible drilling rig for deepwater operations, owned by Houston based Transocean
Sustainable Ocean Summit Final Program Available
The SOS 2013 program will take on the issues that are challenging access to ocean areas and resources by responsible industry operators. Click here to see the program. This global gathering of the diverse ocean business community is not a conference to discuss the issues
Arctic Integrated Management & Planning Advocated
A US interagency working group calls for an integrated management strategy for the rapidly changing Arctic. The recently issued report of the inter-agency working group, chaired by Interior Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, highlights the need for a coordinated approach that uses the best
Arctic Summers Possibly Ice-free Within Twenty Years
"It’s not a question of 'if' there will be nearly ice-free summers, but 'when,' say two NOAA scientists. James Overland of NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and Muyin Wang of the NOAA Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean at the University of
China Gets at Least a Toe-hold in Arctic
The Arctic Institute sees agreement the China-Iceland trade agreement as a clear sign of China's drive to gain a foothold in the Arctic region. In response the signing of a free trade agreement between China and Iceland today, The Arctic Institute’s Executive Director Malte Humpert said:
U.S. National Ocean Policy Plan Released
The Obama Administration releases its final plan for translating the National Ocean Policy into on-the-ground actions to benefit the American people. With significant public input from a wide spectrum of individuals and interests, the final Implementation Plan focuses on improving coordination
Arctic Voyage Planning Guide Published
The Arctic Voyage Planning Guide (AVPG), published by Fisheries & Oceans Canada, is a strategic planning tool for vessels navigating the Canadian Arctic. The government publishers begin by explaining that the guide, a compilation of data and services relevant to mariners