The Arctic:Back on the Map

Jeffrey M. Garrett WISTA, May 15, 2013

The Northwest Passage… in 1846 HMS Erebus, Sir John Franklin

In 1957… U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Storis, Spar and Bramble

And in 2011

Motor Yacht Arcadia

An ice-free waterway!

The U.S. is an Arctic Nation?• Alaska!• 1867 - “Seward’s Folly” made the United States an

Arctic nation• Revenue cutters became the primary government

presence in Arctic & sub-Arctic waters

Early Arctic Operations• Exploration & Science• Enforcement of

environmental laws• Civil government &

community assistance

Bering Sea Patrol

Annual patrols into the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean until 1941

World War II – conflict on the

margins

In the West …• Kiska & Attu invaded

& retaken• The Alaska Highway

built

In the East … Wartime operations in Greenland

• Securing a strategic location

• Capturing German weather stations

• Building modern icebreakers

1950’s – Cold War in the Arctic

• Arctic air bases• Defense early warning radar sites• Northwest Passage

1960’s and 1970’s -- Oil

• Prudhoe Bay discovery• 1969 - SS Manhattan

transited NW Passage• Alaska Pipeline built

1980’s and 1990’s -- Science• Declining need for Arctic logistics• Cold War-related Defense research ends…but

general science demands increase• First indications of climate

change in the Arctic

2000’s – A Flurry of Activity

• Transportation• Oil & Gas resources• Tourism &

adventure travel

• Native Peoples• Science• Environmental concerns• Geopolitics

Transportation• Less ice = more access• Northern Sea Route… a

new waterway

Transportation• Northwest Passage … steady increases in traffic• Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment - 2009• Bering Strait marine traffic

transits U.S. waters

Oil and Gas Development

• Huge potential – U.S. Geological Survey estimates

• Russia … aggressive development

• Norway• Canada• Greenland

Oil and Gas• Alaska – offshore potential,

declining onshore production• Shell Oil – the battle

Tourism & Adventure Travel• Growing popularity …

especially ecotourism• Greenland & Svalbard

well-established … North America & Russia growing

• Cruises … and yachts

But … not much of a safety net!

Native Peoples• Increasing native consciousness• Inuit Circumpolar Council• Nunavut in Canada• Alaska native corporations

ScienceStill tremendous demand for research access:• Relatively little data• Climate change effects• Better data for development?

Environmental Concerns• More science

needed?• The Arctic as a

preserve?• Native perspectives

Geopolitics • Arctic Council - 1996

• Russia “plants the flag” in 2007

• Sovereignty issues – extended continental shelf claims

• Non-Arctic players?

Geopolitics – claims of the extended continental shelf

US – Canadian cooperation in gathering data

The Venerable Wind Class

• 7 Ships• 269 feet LOA• 6,300 tons• 10,000 SHP• Crew 168+

Polar Star and Polar Sea

• Operational 1976, 1977• Length - 399 feet• Displacement - 13,000 t• Propulsion - DE & GT• 60,000 shaft horsepower• Continuous icebreaking -

6+ feet level ice• Back & ram - 21 feet

Polar-Class Capabilities• World’s most powerful non-

nuclear icebreakers• Complex engineering plant• Flight deck & hangar• Multiple boat types• Cranes, cargo spaces• Basic science equipment

and labs

Healy • Delivered in 2000 after years of requirements analysis & design studies

• Multi-mission--but to meet the growing demand for Arctic research

• Length - 420 feet• Displacement - 16,000 t• Power - 30,000 Shp• Continuous icebreaking:

4.5 feet in level ice• Back and ram: 9+ feet

Healy Capabilities• Efficient DE-integrated

propulsion plant• Extensive science

facilities & sensors• Flight deck & hangar• Multiple boat types• Cranes & cargo spaces• 50+ science/passenger

accommodations

Challenges in a

Transforming

Arctic:

Nome Resupply

2012

Polar Issues for the U.S.• Transportation safety

& security• Environmental

protection vs. oil development

• Northern Alaska communities

Polar Issues for the U.S. (Cont’d)

• Turning policy into capability

• International leadership & Law of the Sea

The Rest of the World

• Russia • European Union

Increasing attention and investment ….

• Canada• China• Korea

• Japan• South Africa• Chile

Discussion?

And What About Antarctica?• Historically & politically unique• The Antarctic Treaty – 1960• A foreign policy success story

U.S. Leadership

• Continuous presence• Diplomatic engagement• 3 year-round bases• Robust logistics

capabilities

Future Pressures• Territorial claims &

potential conflict• Tourism• Resources, resources,

resources….