Arctic shipping

Arctic shipping is commercial and other vessel traffic through Arctic waters and along northern maritime routes, including seasonal passages opened by sea ice retreat.

Arctic sea ice: Sea ice is frozen seawater that forms, grows, and melts across the Arctic Ocean and adjoining seas. Its extent and thickness govern which routes ships can use and when.
Arctic cruise tourism: Arctic cruise tourism uses passenger vessels to visit polar landscapes, wildlife, and settlements. Cruise ships bring passengers into remote waters with limited rescue capacity.
Black carbon: Black carbon is light-absorbing particulate matter produced by incomplete combustion of fuels and biomass. Ship exhaust can deposit black carbon on snow and ice, increasing solar absorption.
Suez Canal: The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. It is a major established route that Arctic passages may shorten for some Asia–Europe voyages.
Icebreaker: An icebreaker is a ship designed to navigate through ice and create passages for itself or other vessels. Icebreakers extend access where ordinary commercial ships cannot safely proceed.
Arctic fisheries: Arctic fisheries harvest fish and other marine species in Arctic and subarctic waters. Fishing vessels are a significant source of working traffic in northern seas.
Underwater noise: Underwater noise is sound propagated through water from natural sources and human activities. Vessel noise can interfere with communication and navigation by marine mammals.
Panama Canal: The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway across Panama connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It provides a mature interoceanic route unlike seasonally ice-constrained Arctic passages.
Polar Code: The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters sets mandatory safety and pollution-prevention requirements under SOLAS and MARPOL. It establishes international operating requirements for ships in Arctic waters.
Arctic oil and gas: Arctic oil and gas development explores for and extracts hydrocarbons in northern regions and offshore waters. Energy projects generate supply voyages and potential export cargoes.

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