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International Continental Shelf Survey

Dear Bill:

I am sure that the issue of sovereignty over the fabled Northwest Passage is part of the context of your expedition. The Northwest Passage was supposed to allow ships to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific by a shortcut. My students have studied this question

Now that Global Warming is a reality, the Northwest Passage is no longer theoretical. It seems that Canada claims the NWP as territorial waters - we would too! But I have heard that the United States Government isn't buying that? What's the current political/legal status of the NWP?

yours. Michael Wing Finland 2009

Wed, 08/25/2010 - 18:06

Bill Schmoker

Mi Michael- thanks for the insightful question.On the one hand, our expedition isn't directly concerned with that issue as both countries are cooperatively gathering data to support potential future claims to extended continental shelves under the UN Law of the Sea and we are operating west of the Northwest Passage. The sea floor there isn't in dispute, falling clearly within the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone.
I don't have internet now, only ship's email via satellite, so I can't look any specifics. But I generally understand from a recent talk I attended that there are two sides to that coin. On the one hand, the routes of the Northwest Passage travel between islands in the Canadian Archipelago and are therefore considered internal waterways by Canada. But there is also international law allowing for free passage through sea routes within countries' exclusive economic zones. Perhaps your students could find other examples of this situation in the world's oceans.
Of course, it used to be a moot point due to permanent ice but as you say, the Northwest Passage is becoming more frequently open. I heard that there is an effort to canoe the Northwest Passage underway this summer! The Northeast Passage over Russia is also becoming navigable (an icebreaker-escorted natural gas tanker is making that passage as we speak), and some think a polar passage over or near the North Pole may also be a shipping option soon.
For now I don't think the issue has been resolved or if there is enough interest yet in international shipping through the Northwest Passage for the case to be seriously tested. But I also expect the situation to come to the forefront in coming years. Besides the issue of who should control the passage there are many logistical problems like a lack of ports or repair & rescue capabilities in the Arctic. But an open passage could shave thousands of miles off many shipping routes and potentially save a single large ship perhaps two million dollars in saved fuel expenses if it could transit that route. So I'd end by commenting that your students will certainly hear a lot more about this fairly soon.
Best from the Arctic- Bill Schmoker