Perilous Arctic passage that foiled centuries of explorers to be opened up to cruise liners...
BUT WITHOUT CANADIAN ARCTIC SEARCH AND RESCUE STATION MANNED WITH EMERGENCY ASSETS. THE CLOSEST STATION IS VICTORIA B.C., TRENTON ONTARIO OR HALIFAX NEWFOUNDLAND. SURVIVAL TIME IN COLD ARCTIC WATER IS AN HOUR WHILE TIME TO DEPLOY ROYAL CANADIAN AIRCRAFT AND REACH ON SCENE MAY TAKE A DAY OR MORE... WHAT THE HELL?
Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue has 42 stations. NOT ONE IN THE ARCTIC!
Canadian Armed Forces Search & Rescue has three primary bases at: Victoria, Trenton and Halifax. The time for the fastest aircraft (i.e. a C130 Hercules) to reach a Northwest Passage deep water route used by cruise ships, i.e. Peel Sound, would require near 7 hours. Even then, they could not land to render immediate assistance except to parachute small inflatable boats and a few key crew IF THE WEATHER ALLOWED.
NOT ONE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES SEARCH & RESCUE FORWARD MANNED BASE NOR HELICOPTER IS TEMPORARY PLACED IN THE ARCTIC DURING THE SUMMER. (Unlike the USA Coast Guard who has forward stations in Arctic Alaska during the summer. See: http://www.uscg.mil/d17/Arctic%20Shield%202015.asp)
HOW ABOUT THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD? SURE CANADIAN COAST GUARD ICEBREAKERS ARE IN ARCTIC WATERS DURING THE MINIMUM ICE SEASON... BUT ONLY ABLE TO GET UNDERWAY AT 12 KNOTS PER HOUR MEANS THAT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE ON SCENE IT COULD SPELL A RECOVERY OPERATION.
WHAT THE HELL? IS THIS HOW CANADA CLAIMS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT?
HOW CAN CANADA PERMIT A CRUISE SHIP WITH 1,000 PASSENGERS TO BE PLACED IN HARMS WAY... MOST CRUISE SHIPS DO NOT EVEN HAVE AN ICE CLASSED HULL AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE ARCTIC WATERS WHERE SEA ICE DANGERS EXIST. ARCTIC CANADIAN WATERS ARE LESS THAN 10% SURVEYED FOR MARINE NAVIGATION.
CANADA - SHAME ON YOU!
TOURISTS NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION - RISK IT ALL OR GO SOME PLACE ELSE WOULD BE MY ADVICE.
Climate change means the ice in the Northwest Passage is less thick, allowing luxury cruise ships to pass through.
(WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS MORE BERGY BITS (1-5 METERS) OF SEA ICE WHICH CAN DAMAGE NON-ICE CLASS RATED STEEL HULLS PLUS THE DRIFTING SEA ICE BECOMES CAPABLE OF CREATING ICE 'DAM' BLOCKAGES PREVENTING SAFE NAVIGATION BY A DEEP DRAFT CRUISE SHIP.)
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The Crystal Serenity (inset) is the largest ship to attempt to make the Arctic journey Photo: NGS/Getty
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By Sophie Jamieson
BUT WITHOUT CANADIAN ARCTIC SEARCH AND RESCUE STATION MANNED WITH EMERGENCY ASSETS. THE CLOSEST STATION IS VICTORIA B.C., TRENTON ONTARIO OR HALIFAX NEWFOUNDLAND. SURVIVAL TIME IN COLD ARCTIC WATER IS AN HOUR WHILE TIME TO DEPLOY ROYAL CANADIAN AIRCRAFT AND REACH ON SCENE MAY TAKE A DAY OR MORE... WHAT THE HELL?
Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue has 42 stations. NOT ONE IN THE ARCTIC!
Canadian Armed Forces Search & Rescue has three primary bases at: Victoria, Trenton and Halifax. The time for the fastest aircraft (i.e. a C130 Hercules) to reach a Northwest Passage deep water route used by cruise ships, i.e. Peel Sound, would require near 7 hours. Even then, they could not land to render immediate assistance except to parachute small inflatable boats and a few key crew IF THE WEATHER ALLOWED.
NOT ONE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES SEARCH & RESCUE FORWARD MANNED BASE NOR HELICOPTER IS TEMPORARY PLACED IN THE ARCTIC DURING THE SUMMER. (Unlike the USA Coast Guard who has forward stations in Arctic Alaska during the summer. See: http://www.uscg.mil/d17/Arctic%20Shield%202015.asp)
HOW ABOUT THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD? SURE CANADIAN COAST GUARD ICEBREAKERS ARE IN ARCTIC WATERS DURING THE MINIMUM ICE SEASON... BUT ONLY ABLE TO GET UNDERWAY AT 12 KNOTS PER HOUR MEANS THAT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE ON SCENE IT COULD SPELL A RECOVERY OPERATION.
WHAT THE HELL? IS THIS HOW CANADA CLAIMS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT?
HOW CAN CANADA PERMIT A CRUISE SHIP WITH 1,000 PASSENGERS TO BE PLACED IN HARMS WAY... MOST CRUISE SHIPS DO NOT EVEN HAVE AN ICE CLASSED HULL AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE ARCTIC WATERS WHERE SEA ICE DANGERS EXIST. ARCTIC CANADIAN WATERS ARE LESS THAN 10% SURVEYED FOR MARINE NAVIGATION.
CANADA - SHAME ON YOU!
TOURISTS NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION - RISK IT ALL OR GO SOME PLACE ELSE WOULD BE MY ADVICE.
Climate change means the ice in the Northwest Passage is less thick, allowing luxury cruise ships to pass through.
(WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS MORE BERGY BITS (1-5 METERS) OF SEA ICE WHICH CAN DAMAGE NON-ICE CLASS RATED STEEL HULLS PLUS THE DRIFTING SEA ICE BECOMES CAPABLE OF CREATING ICE 'DAM' BLOCKAGES PREVENTING SAFE NAVIGATION BY A DEEP DRAFT CRUISE SHIP.)
The Crystal Serenity (inset) is the largest ship to attempt to make the Arctic journey Photo: NGS/Getty
By Sophie Jamieson
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/12199446/Perilous-Arctic-passage-that-foiled-centuries-of-explorers-to-be-opened-up-to-cruise-liners.html
20 Mar 2016
The perilous route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that once foiled many an explorer is set to become a tourist destination.
Large-scale luxury cruises will travel the Northwest Passage for the first time this summer.
The Crystal Serenity, taking more than 900 passengers at a cost from £17,000 to up to £78,000 each, is the largest ship to attempt to make the Arctic journey. Smaller vessels have already made the trip.
The passengers will travel from the Gulf of Alaska through the Beaufort Sea to Greenland and on to New York.
It took more than 400 years to find a route across the top of north America, the passage becoming known as the “Arctic grail” as numerous explorers failed to traverse the frozen waters.
The voyage ended in disaster and tragedy for many who sought to tackle the inhospitable region, like Sir John Franklin who perished along with his crew in 1847.
Now climate change has forced a decline in the thickness and extent of the sea ice, making the route clearer.
Tim Soper, founder of Expedition Voyage Consultants, which is overseeing the trip, told the Sunday Times: "We are in a period of change in the Arctic. The ice is reducing in extent and thickness so it is easier to navigate, and the window during which it can be transited is lengthening.”
"The melting of the Arctic sea ice should be a profound warning for humankind, not an invitation to oil companies and now tour ships to move in."
John Sauven, Greenpeace UK
Environmental campaigners fear that opening up the route could risk oil spills and pollution to the Arctic ecosystem.
John Sauven, director of Greenpeace UK, said: "The melting of the Arctic sea ice should be a profound warning for humankind, not an invitation to oil companies and now tour ships to move in."
Passengers will be banned from using their mobile phones on the tiny network used by Inuit communities.
Among the activities on offer include possible polar bear sightings, whale watching, helicopter flights and the opportunity to play at the Billy Joss Gold Club in Ulukhaktok, the world’s northernmost nine-hole course.
20 Mar 2016
The perilous route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that once foiled many an explorer is set to become a tourist destination.
Large-scale luxury cruises will travel the Northwest Passage for the first time this summer.
The Crystal Serenity, taking more than 900 passengers at a cost from £17,000 to up to £78,000 each, is the largest ship to attempt to make the Arctic journey. Smaller vessels have already made the trip.
The passengers will travel from the Gulf of Alaska through the Beaufort Sea to Greenland and on to New York.
It took more than 400 years to find a route across the top of north America, the passage becoming known as the “Arctic grail” as numerous explorers failed to traverse the frozen waters.
The voyage ended in disaster and tragedy for many who sought to tackle the inhospitable region, like Sir John Franklin who perished along with his crew in 1847.
Now climate change has forced a decline in the thickness and extent of the sea ice, making the route clearer.
Tim Soper, founder of Expedition Voyage Consultants, which is overseeing the trip, told the Sunday Times: "We are in a period of change in the Arctic. The ice is reducing in extent and thickness so it is easier to navigate, and the window during which it can be transited is lengthening.”
"The melting of the Arctic sea ice should be a profound warning for humankind, not an invitation to oil companies and now tour ships to move in."
John Sauven, Greenpeace UK
Environmental campaigners fear that opening up the route could risk oil spills and pollution to the Arctic ecosystem.
John Sauven, director of Greenpeace UK, said: "The melting of the Arctic sea ice should be a profound warning for humankind, not an invitation to oil companies and now tour ships to move in."
Passengers will be banned from using their mobile phones on the tiny network used by Inuit communities.
Among the activities on offer include possible polar bear sightings, whale watching, helicopter flights and the opportunity to play at the Billy Joss Gold Club in Ulukhaktok, the world’s northernmost nine-hole course.