Full Steam Ahead: Fragile Arctic Opens New Trade Route

One of my fav sayings in life is that every action has reaction. Or you can make lemonade out of vinegar — whatever is the adage that is supposed to inspire us to think positively in the midst of problems.

I’m struggling with reporting that the Arctic shortcut, a long-time dream of transcontinental shippers, may now be possible, as a result of global warning.

A German ship, following a Russian icebreaker, is about to complete a shipment from Asia to Europe via Arctic watersIn fact this is the case. The NYTimes reports that two German ships are steaming through Arctic waters for the first time, making the first true commercial transit of the entire Northwest Passage from Asia to the West.

In 1553, the British explorer Hugh Willoughby died in his attempt to transit the Arctic. The history of navigation in the area is fraught with problems and danger.

“Apart from the stress, it is an economically and ecologically beneficial shortcut between Europe and Asia,” Valery Durov, captain of the Beluga Foresight, wrote in response to e-mailed questions about the treacherous stretch. “In such voyages, the advantage of fewer miles can outweigh delays waiting for clear water.”

There is no clarification of meaning in the following terms in the article: “apart from the stress”; “ecologically beneficial”; “advantage of fewer miles”. There’s also no discussion of environmental impact on the already-fragile Arctic region. A