Thawing Strait busying Coast Guard

Alaskan sea ice only just forming

Just north of the Bering Strait, over the Chukchi Sea which cradles Alaska, a new film of ice is filling gaps between bigger chunks. The sea surface is only now starting to freeze despite it being so late in the year.

U.S Coast Guard Rear Admiral Chris Colvin, Head of the Agency’s Alaska Operations, says the freeze is ‘’well overdue’’.

In recent weeks, he and his team of Coast Guards have been patrolling commercial fishing grounds far further north than they are accustomed to.

With the shrinking of sea ice open waters are expanding and are remaining fluid much longer throughout the year. As a result, daily traffic of cruise ships, cargo ships and oil tankers are increasing in activity around the arctic region.

Since 2007, when sea ice retreated to its lowest point on record, the Coast Guard has been keen to assert its presence.   

"It's important for the Coast Guard to know what's going on up here," said Colvin, from the Coast Guard's Alaska headquarters in Juneau, about 1,100 miles (1,770 km) southeast of the Bering Strait. "It's one thing when it's completely covered by ice. But it's another when it's open water."

Arctic ice pack receded to its third lowest coverage this year since satellite records started 30 years ago.

Scientists say Arctic ice shrinkage has profound climate effects, allowing dark ocean surfaces to retain solar heat and perpetuate a warming spiral, triggering major weather changes far to the south.

The swathe that climate change has cut through this passage has inspired some to rename it the ‘Bering Gate’ as it looks to become a vital thoroughfare to the Arctic.

Already Alaska’s Arctic waters are getting more industrial congestion, like the vessels helping oil companies to seek out new drilling spots. Cruise ships for tourists wanting to see true north are also becoming a common sight.

At least 13 adventure expeditions were mounted this summer, Colvin said, forcing the Coast Guard to use unconventional methods to keep track.

‘‘A lot of information that we get is from searching websites, believe it or not. It’s not like we have a whole bunch of radar tracking ships.’’

Indeed, if the Northeast and Northwest Passage should continue to thaw at the same rate as the Bering Strait then shipping companies can expect to cut thousands of miles off their route. Yet, for now, the impact of such an event remains a worrying prospect for Colvin, his team and the climate itself.