DNV GL Maps Arctic Hazards

Ice hazards vary by location and season

Classification society DNV GL says it has created a new interactive map showing environmental and safety hazards in the Arctic.

The map provides a visualisation of changes in risks based on seasonal distribution of ice, physical conditions, animal life, shipping traffic, oil and gas resources, and accident history.

DNV GL uses two indices, a Safety and Operability Index, which shows the levels of risks to ships in different parts of the Arctic, and an Environmental Vulnerability Index, which measures Arctic species' vulnerability to an oil spill.

"The Arctic environment is generally at its most vulnerable during summer due to the presence of species at sensitive life stages in combination with the industrial activity that occurs in these months," the class society said.

"This risk tapers off during autumn and is at its lowest in winter; however this differs greatly between regions."

Map users can zoom in on 17 different Arctic areas such as the Barents Sea or the Faroe Islands.

"Ensuring safe operations in the Arctic requires a measured and cooperative approach," DVN GL said.

To encourage safe travel in Arctic waters, it suggests that different areas be developed starting with environments with no sea ice, and then moving into areas with seasonal ice and then continuous or heavy ice conditions in a systematic, step-by-step manner.

As melting sea ice encourages more vessel traffic in the Arctic, the International Maritime Organisation has been developing a Polar Code to govern the practice, but some environmental groups have said a draft released earlier this year is not sufficient to address major risks.