Shipping losses in Arctic waters increase in 2014: review

This graph from the Safety and Shipping Review 2015 shows the increase in Arctic shipping losses over the past 10 years.

Shipping losses continued their long-term downward trend with 75 reported worldwide in 2014, making it the safest year in shipping for 10 years, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s recently released Safety and Shipping Review 2015, which analyzes reported shipping losses of over 100 gross tons.

But here’s a blip.

That downward trend didn’t hold true in the Arctic: there were 55 shipping casualties in Arctic Circle waters in 2014, the review said.

That’s up from just three a decade ago.

Only four ships even navigated this route in 2010, increasing 
to 34 in 2011 and 46 in 2012. By 2013 the number had reached 71, according to figures from the review.

“Although 2014 saw relatively heavy ice cover in the Arctic, causing numbers to drop — with political implications and a slowdown in the Russian economy also potential contributing factors in this decline — the long-term trend still indicates greatly expanded shipping,” the review’s authors noted.

And they said a “pivotal moment for shipping in the high-risk Arctic waters was passed last year,” with the introduction of the Polar Code.

The Polar Code requires ships intending to operate in the Antarctic and Arctic to apply for a Polar Ship Certificate, which would classify the vessel as a Category A, B or C ship, depending on the thickness of the ice that the ship will be allowed to operate in.

The code also requires ships operating in these waters to carry a Polar Water Operational Manual to provide the owner, operator, master and crew with sufficient information regarding the ship’s operational capabilities and limitations in polar waters.

But the review’s authors said questions still remain around clean-up, training and vessel suitability.

“The Polar Code will need constant revision,” they said.

And any shipping problems encountered and best practices to employ should be outlined at the end of each season.