Gas tanker Ob River attempts first winter Arctic crossing

By Matt McGrath

Environment correspondent, BBC News

Icebreakers are required to escort the tanker

A large tanker carrying liquified natural gas (LNG) is set to become 

the first ship of its type to sail across the Arctic.

The carrier, Ob River, left Norway in November and has sailed north of 

Russia on its way to Japan.

The specially equipped tanker is due to arrive in early December and 

will shave 20 days off the regular journey.

The owners say that changing climate conditions and a volatile gas market 

make the Arctic transit profitable.

Long-term preparation

Built in 2007 with a strengthened hull, the Ob River can carry up to 150,000 

cubic metres of gas. The tanker was loaded with LNG at Hammerfest in the 

north of Norway on 7 November and set sail across the Barents Sea. It has 

been accompanied by a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker for much of its 

voyage.

The ship, with an international crew of 40, has been chartered from its 

Greek owners Dynagas by the Russian Gazprom energy giant. It says 

it has been preparing for the trip for over a year.

"It's an extraordinarily interesting adventure," Tony Lauritzen, commercial 

director at Dynagas, told BBC News.

"The people on board have been seeing polar bears on the route. We've 

had the plans for a long time and everything has gone well."

Mr Lauritzen says that a key factor in the decision to use the northern 

route was the recent scientific record on melting in the Arctic.

"We have studied lots of observation data - there is an observable trend 

that the ice conditions are becoming more and more favourable for transiting 

this route. You are able to reach a highly profitable market by saving 40% of

 the distance, that's 40% less fuel used as well."

Despite the ice, the Arctic is navigable through November

But melting ice is not the only factor. A major element is the emergence 

of shale gas in the US.

The Norwegian LNG plant at Hammerfest was developed with exports 

to the US in mind. But the rapid uptake of shale in America has 

curbed the demand for imported gas.

Meanwhile in Japan, in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, 

there has been a growing interest in alternative power sources, 

especially gas.

"The major point about gas is that it now goes east and not west," 

says Gunnar Sander, senior adviser at the Norwegian Polar Institute and 

an expert on how climate change impacts economic activity in the Arctic.

"The shale gas revolution has turned the market upside down; that plus 

the rapid melting of the polar ice."

He stresses that the changes in climate are less important than the growing 

demand for oil and gas.

"The major driver is the export of resources from the Arctic region, not the fact 

that you can transit across the Arctic sea."

There is an expectation that because of changing climactic conditions, 

sea traffic across the northern sea route will increase rapidly. 2012 has 

been a record year both for the length of the sailing season and also for the 

amount of cargo that has been shipped.

But Gunnar Sander says there are limits to the growth and some perspective 

is required.

"Nineteen thousand ships went through the Suez canal last year; around 40 

went through the northern sea route. There's a huge difference."

The retreating ice is opening up new sea routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific

Source: BBC, UK.