Nordic Bulk Carriers break Arctic record
In 2012 ships from Nordic Bulk Carriers sailed through the Northeast Passage 10 times. Hence the company was in charge of more than one in five sailings through the passage in 2012. Next year the number will grow further.
"We sailed 10 trips through the Northeast Passage, compared to only 1 in 2011. In bulk, we had 75 per cent of all sailings in the Northeast Passage in 2012. It is mainly iron, ore and coal, which we have shipped. From Murmansk and China. But we've also brought coal from Canada back to Europe and had wind turbine blades from China to Poland", says company director Christian Bonfils to Politiken.
And next year, the number further.
"With the ships available to us now, we may have up to 12-14 races next year," says Bonfils.
But it is not free to sail through the Northeast Passage. Russia demands that ships passing the Northeast Passage are accompanied by a Russian nuclear icebreaker. Price: $ 400,000.
"There is no doubt that the Russians see great economic potential in this. But it is also very hyped. The Suez Canal is open all year, while the Northeast Passage is only open 4-5 months at a time. And there will not be a boom in form of companies that build ice strengthened boats just to sail through the Northeast Passage - for you don’t do that, if you can only use the ship 4-5 months a year", says Christian Bonfils.
Source: Politiken
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