For centuries, mariners have dreamed of an Arctic shortcut that would allow them to speed trade between Asia and the West.And Friday, German merchant ships traversed the fabled Northeast Passage, aided by the retreat of Arctic ice that scientists have linked to global warming.
The route from South Korea along Russia’s Arctic coast to Siberia was avoided in years past because of its heavy ice floes. But scientists have reported that the Arctic Ocean ice cap has been shrinking to unprecedented levels, because of global warming, opening up many passages that were once ice-choked.
The German-owned ships are heading for Rotterdam in the Netherlands with 3,500 tons of construction parts. A shipping executive says the voyage marks the first time a Western shipping company successfully traversed the route.
Global warming is a lot like Elvis – you can’t escape it, so you might as well embrace it!
