Emergency Infrastructure in Arctic Limited
03.02.2009 - Logistics, Water & Oceans, Ice & Snow, Human Dimension, Other, Arctic
A new report released today by the University of New Hampshire and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the existing infrastructure for emergencies in the Arctic is limited. The report, which includes findings from a panel of experts and decision-makers from the governments of Arctic nations, industry and indigenous communities, shows that there is a lot to be done in order to enhance emergency response capacity as ship traffic in the Arctic increases with the disappearing Arctic Sea ice.
The panel, which based its findings on five potential emergency scenarios ranging from the rescue of 2,000 passengers to a grounded cruise ship to oil spilling in the Arctic, found that:
- multinational plans and agreements must be strengthened
- logistical support capabilities must be improved
- weather data and navigational charts must be updated
- technologies must be improved in order to respond to oil spills
- potential ports in the Arctic must be designated
