12 Sep 2009

North East Passage being attempted by German ships

11:14 am on 12 September 2009

Two German merchant ships are attempting the first commercial voyage through the Arctic waters off northern Russia - a route known as the North East Passage.

The BBC reports the route is usually frozen, but rising temperatures caused by global warming have melted much of the ice.

The Beluga Shipping GmbH said on its website the Beluga Fraternity and Beluga Foresight arrived in the Siberian port of Yamburg, in the Ob river delta, on Monday.

Both ships left South Korea in late July, negotiating the passage off north-eastern Siberia behind two Russian icebreakers.

The BBC reports the passage became passable without ice breakers in 2005. By avoiding the Suez canal, the trip from Asia to Europe is shortened by almost 5000km.

The company behind the attempt says it is saving about $US300,000 per vessel by using the northern route.

Scientists estimate that the last time that the North East Passage was as free of ice as it is now, was between 5000 - 7000 years ago.