Northeast Passage may be opened due to melting ice.
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Two merchant ships are on course to complete a shortcut over the top of the world which could cut the price of British imports from China, Japan and Korea. As a result of global warming the ice which once prevented ships from using this route is now melting and it is expected that the Northeast Passage will be opened with ease. It has been approximately 500 years since the British explorer Hugh Willoughby and his crew died when their ship was crushed by the ice in 1553. In the last 20 years Russia has made repeated attempts to get their ships through. If the Northeast Passage was re-opened it would mean vast savings in fuel and time.