Comments on: Fighting over nothing http://freakflag.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/fighting-over-nothing/ "Live free or don't" - The Battle Cry of the Apathetic Sat, 10 May 2008 16:38:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Holly Black http://freakflag.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/fighting-over-nothing/#comment-3 Holly Black Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:47:50 +0000 http://freakflag.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/fighting-over-nothing/#comment-3 There are two Arctic routes between Atlantic and Pacific - through Canadian waters and through Russian waters. The NorthWest passage has the geographical advantage of thawing sooner but the NorthEast passage has the advantage of having better ports and support ships. The country likely to win this race will be the first one smart enough to realize that they can offer a face-saving solution to the shipping companies of not charging a toll but instead offering "pre-paid insurance" to cover Coastguard safety monitoring and Icebreaker rescue in the unlikely event that it is needed. Once the first post-Panamax container ship makes a Summer Arctic passage, even if lightly loaded, all hell will break loose. My guess - Summer 2008. There are two Arctic routes between Atlantic and Pacific – through Canadian waters and through Russian waters.

The NorthWest passage has the geographical advantage of thawing sooner but the NorthEast passage has the advantage of having better ports and support ships.

The country likely to win this race will be the first one smart enough to realize that they can offer a face-saving solution to the shipping companies of not charging a toll but instead offering “pre-paid insurance” to cover Coastguard safety monitoring and Icebreaker rescue in the unlikely event that it is needed.

Once the first post-Panamax container ship makes a Summer Arctic passage, even if lightly loaded, all hell will break loose. My guess – Summer 2008.

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