LNG Merak is the second of four conventional gas tankers ordered in China. (Photo: Hudong-Zhonghua)Despite heightened geopolitical tensions and Western sanctions, Norway remains an important stopover point for LNG tankers transporting gas from the Russian Arctic. As the analysis portal High North Ne
Norway has decided to halt deep-sea mining plans in Arctic waters until at least 2029. The move, announced on 1 December 2025, is part of a political compromise tied to the 2026 state budget. No new licenses will be issued during the current legislative term, and public funding for seabed mineral ma
The LNG tanker “Christophe de Margerie” was built by DSME in South Korea and has the Russian ice class ARC7. The ship is capable of navigating the Northern Sea Route without the assistance of icebreakers. (Photo: SCF)The South Korean government is pushing its Arctic strategy forward: for the first t
On the southwestern edge of Greenland lies the ghost town of Ivittuut. Once a lively settlement due to its global importance in the production of metallic aluminum. From Arctic hamlet to globally significant settlementOn the southwestern edge of Greenland, on the quiet Arsuk Fjord, lies Ivittuut – t
AI-generated autonomous underwater vehicle in the deep seaThe Arctic holds mineral resources that are becoming increasingly important for a climate-friendly future. Against this backdrop, Norway faces a decision with far-reaching consequences: Should it open its Arctic deep-sea areas for the extract
Fish of the cod family range from 15 centimeters to two meters in length. Cod is also an important food fish.The Barents Sea faces the threat of an environmental disaster following the potential collapse of the fisheries agreement between Norway and Russia. In July 2025, the Norwegian government, fo
Russia and China will train Specialists for Maritime Navigation in Polar RegionsHangzhou, November 4, 2025 – Russia and China will jointly train specialists for navigation in polar waters, according to a memorandum signed during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit to China, the Russian
The most important industry in Chukotka is the mining of precious metals.Chukotka is a remote region in north-eastern Russia, home to several large gold mines. The region is known for its harsh climate and difficult living conditions. The traditional industries of the Chukchi and other indigenous et
The first floating power plant is stationed in the port of Pevec, in the far east of Russia. (Photo: Rosatom)Rosatom has begun developing a new floating nuclear power plant with a capacity of 180 megawatts. This was announced by the deputy director general of the corporation, Andrei Nikipelov. ‘We p
The container ship «Istanbul Bridge» sails through the Northeast Passage in record time. (Photo: Port Zhoushan)The Chinese container ship «Istanbul Bridge» has completed the route from China to the United Kingdom via the Arctic in just 20 days. Never before has a ship sailed through the Northeast Pa
The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at a new map of Alexander Island, a new Canadian inuit-owned fishing vessel, and a new viral threat for Arctic foxes on Svalbard. The Polar Retrospective is a collaborative effort by the e
While Chinese scientists issue urgent pleas to limit Arctic shipping to protect the region from the environmental impact, Chinese shipping companies plan on sending more and more vessels into the Arctic As Arctic sea ice continues to decline, new shipping routes are opening up, offering potentially
Ice, fishing, education, municipal elections, Greenlandic independence and the tourist economy are all subjects that cross the mind of the director of the Icefjord Center, a resident of Greenland’s third-largest city.The index finger points to Karl Sandgreen’s old fishing boat. Image: Camille LinThe
The economic dynamism of Canada’s north did not go unnoticed by Business Index North researchers when they looked at economic development in the Arctic.Hope Bay gold mine, Nunavut region. Image: TMAC Resources “Canada’s northern territories are emerging as growth leaders, with Nunavut and Yukon expe
At the 43rd meeting of the CCAMLR Commission, the divergence of vision between environmental conservation and sustainable fishing came face to face to the extent that no agreement was reached on the future of krill fishing. On the one hand, a project for a marine protected area around the Antarctic
The Beringovsky mine has been operated since 2016 by an Australian company, which withdrew from the project this summer. The company avoided Western sanctions thanks to a complex set-up of Cyprian and Russian companies, but none of this would have been revealed had the mine not been the scene of an
The pan-arctic map illustrates the extent of human activity at night. Color coding: black – unlit, orange – lit, yellow – increasing illumination, purple – decreasing illumination. Map: Cengiz Akandil, University of Zurich; Natural Earth The area affected by oil and gas production and mining in the
Safety is an issue for shipping in the Arctic, where emergency infrastructures are rare. Over the last ten years, the distance covered by the Polar Code has doubled, and the number of ships has increased. Image: Air Force / Joint Arctic CommandThe challenges of maritime safety in polar zones were d
The Antarctic season start at Port Lockoy will kick off soon. (Photo: Michael Wenger)The Polar Retrospective looks at stories of the past week that are related to the Arctic and Antarctic and focuses on one or more aspects. This week will look at the start of the Antarctic tourism season along the A
A sea port in Tiksi photographed in 2019, when Olga Povoroznyuk visited the remote Siberian town. Photo: Olga PovoroznyukA research project at the University of Vienna is attempting an, at the moment, difficult task: to conduct anthropological research on the Russian Arctic. Preliminary results show
From whaling to whale watching, our relationship with these animals has improved considerably, but they continue to suffer from infractions or the absence of rules. Image : Michael WengerThe attraction and curiosity about whales can be mutual if all the conditions are met. But when economic attracti
The area around Nanortalik is characterized by numerous skerries – one of which was the Adolf Jensen’ s undoing. Photo: Wikipedia/Jensbn The passenger ship Adolf Jensen ran aground and sank off Nanortalik in southern Greenland last week. All passengers and crew members managed to evacuate and are sa
The dam that Arctic Water Bank plans to build is still years away. This photo of a small hydropower dam at another location in South Greenland. Photo: Claus Andersen-Aagaard, Creative Commons The Government of Greenland sees the permission to exploit a river in South Greenland as part of a larger st
The Ilulissat Icefjord is an impressive sights for tourists, but recently disagreements arose over how the money they spend should be divided. Photo: Michael WengerArctic cruise ship operators have faced headwinds in Greenland this summer, but AECO, an organization representing the interests of expe
