The heavy ice strengthening of hulls, upgrading of equipment and components, and requirements to minimize emissions and improve icebreaking capabilities must be implemented in order to establish regular year-round trans-Arctic containership operations.
DNV has carried out a feasibility study to evaluate the possible advantages of utilizing the shorter trans-Arctic route between Asia and Europe and benchmarked it against the traditional Suez route. Climate change, which is causing summer ice to lessen and possibly not occur in the future, has initiated the new focus on the alternative route.