The project Collaborative Research: Holistic Integration for Arctic Coastal Marine Sustainability (HIACCMS) from the outset reaffirmed the complexity and key drivers of Arctic change: profound Arctic climate change (reflected for this project in the historic retreat of Arctic sea ice); globalization in terms of Arctic natrual resource developments and their links to global markets; Arctic indigenous peoples challenges including self-determination; and, regional and global geopolitics. Each of these drivers or uncertainties has significant influence on current and future Arctic marine operations and shipping. For example, Arctic sea ice retreat provides for greater marine access throughout the Arctic Ocean and the possibility of longer seasons of navigation on traditional and new marine routes. The pace of Arctic natural resource developments - oil, gas, and hard minerals such as nickel, copper, zinc, coal, and more - creates the need for Arctic marine transportation systems, both ships and support infrastructure (ports, charts, response capacity, aids to navigation, and communications) normally located in the coastal zone. This project helped to identify the broad range of marine infrastructure required to support and enhance the sustainabaility of Arctic coastal marine systems.

One of the key objectives of the project was to identify effective policy options for decison-makers to enhance the safety and protection of Arctic marine systems. During the course of the project the researchers participated at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London to assist in the development of a new set of international rules and regulations for polar marine operations. The IMO Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (known as the 'Polar Code') fully came into force in July 2018.  The project held a conference at IMO Headquarters in London (February 2014) on the importance of such an emerging Polar Code to advancing marine safety and environmental protection in Arctic and Antarctic waters. The project also hosted a workshop on the Polar Code in Anchorage, Alaska (November 2016) to discuss the elements of the Polar Code and their implementation and enforcement within the U.S. maritime Arctic. The workshop included participants from: indigenous communities; the maritime industry; federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; State of Alaska departments; and other users of Alaska's Arctic waters. The Polar Code has special application to the region as the Code is mandatory in all U.S. marine waters (and beyond) north of 60 degrees North. The project principal investigator was a member of the U.S. Delegation to IMO during the Polar Code negotiations and advised on the final components of the Polar Code for large commercial carriers and cruise ships operating in polar waters. The Polar Code includes: polar ship structural standards; marine safety and lifesaving equipment requirements; training and experince reqirements for polar mariners; a Polar Ship Certificate and Polar Water Operations Manual; and, environmental rules eliminating the discharge into polar waters of oil and noxious liquids and providing restrictions on sewage and waste/garbage discharge. The IMO Polar Code is a seminal, new governance regime for the Arctic Ocean and a central marine policy instrument developed with input and analysis from the principal investigator during the period of research for the project.

A research collaboration was developed among; the project; the World Maritime University (WMU)  in Malmo, Sweden; the IMO; and, the Arctic Council's Working Group on Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) to advance the sustainability of Arctic marine operations and shipping. A major conference was hosted by the WMU in August 2015 where international marine experts provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing Arctic marine navigation in the 21st century. Key outcomes and findings include: an urgent need for amendments to existing IMO conventions to create a mandatory set of international polar ship rules and regulations; the lack of viable marine infrastructure throughout most of the maritime Arctic; the need for comprehensive environmental information and ship traffic data; the need for a stategic, holistic approach to integrate Arctic marine uses including subsistence uses for ecosystems-based management; requirements for ship routing measures in Arctic waterways such as the Bering Strait; and the necessary development of innovative public-private partnerships for funding Arctic marine infrastructure. Experts contributed review chapters that were edited by the principal investigator and WMU researchers and published as the volume Sustainable Shipping in a Changing Arctic. This book is a major product of the project and is a reference guide for policy-makers, the maritime industry, and a host of Arctic stakeholders.

Scenarios (futures) methodolgies were employed throughout the project to create plausible futures of Arctic marine navigation. Research papers and journal articles were published to illustrate the range of plausible futures for the Arctic Ocean and highlight the complexity of 21st century marine uses at the top of the world. Project outcomes will be valuable to those shaping policies for enhancing Arctic marine safety, environmental protection and sustainability in this dynamic region.

Last Modified: 12/05/2018
Modified by: Lawson W Brigham