The Arctic Shortcut: Shipping Through the Melting Ice

Over the top of the world, the sea route between Asia and Europe can be about a third shorter than going through Suez. For centuries it was frozen shut. Now the ice is retreating, nuclear icebreakers lead convoys and gas tankers smash through the ice on their own. So why do most ships still avoid it? 00:00 Intro 00:32 The Top Of The World 01:35 The Search For A Passage 02:54 The Ice Is Melting 03:50 The Icebreakers 05:14 Ships That Break Their Own Way 06:16 The Numbers 07:15 Why Not? 08:15 The Environmental Risk 09:16 The Future 09:57 The Top Of The Map Sources: NSIDC (Arctic sea ice minimum trend); Northern Sea Route cargo statistics (CHNL / NSR administration); IMO Polar Code (2017) and Arctic heavy fuel oil ban (2024); historical accounts of the Vega (1878–79), Amundsen (1903–06) and SS Manhattan (1969); Yamal LNG / Christophe de Margerie (2017). #arctic #shipping #icebreaker #climate #northernsearoute #documentary