Clean Arctic Alliance, expressing concern over the negative effects of ship traffic in the Northern Sea Route, particularly on indigenous communities and wildlife, stated that the increase in maritime trade activities will lead to negative impacts on climate, ocean pollution, and a decrease in biodiversity.
Ship Traffic and Its Impacts
A Liberian-flagged container ship named Dubai Tower, owned by the Chinese company Sea Legend, departed from the ports of Teesport and Felixstowe in the UK on September 9, 2026, heading towards the port of Hamburg in Germany. This ship will also go to the port of Gdynia in Poland.
According to reports, the Dubai Tower ship will have negative impacts on the environment and climate of the region as it passes through the Northern Sea Route. Dr. Sian Prior, Senior Advisor to Clean Arctic Alliance, emphasized that black carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels at sea will create greater warming effects and lead to the melting of sea ice and drought.
Actions and Recommendations
Dra Prior also added that using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel is not a suitable option due to methane emissions throughout its lifecycle. Pollution from ships, including oil and sewage discharge and increased underwater noise, questions the health of polar oceans and affects indigenous communities.
Clean Arctic Alliance urges polar countries to support Denmark and establish new regulations for the use of cleaner marine fuels. These regulations should be implemented in areas designated as the basis for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) by the Arctic Council.
The polar fuel standard could fill significant gaps in the current IMO regulatory framework and help reduce black carbon emissions from ships. This action requires the use of cleaner fuels such as marine gas oil (MGO) and new zero-carbon fuels that are entering the market.
