Climate Change opens Northeast Passage through Arctic

Climate change has warmed the Arctic Ocean opening the fabled Northeast Passage.  Two German ships became the first to make the journey going from South Korea to Holland.   The merchant ships MV Beluga Fraternity and MV Beluga Foresight arrived this week in Yamburg, Siberia and will continue on the Holland.  Making the Northeast Passage cut 30% off the traditional voyage saving fuel and 10 days travel time.

Scientists report that the Arctic Ocean ice cap has been shrinking to unprecedented levels in recent summers, because of global warming, opening up many passages through the Arctic.  "We are seeing an expression of climate change here," said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado. "The Arctic is warming; we're losing the sea ice cover. The more frequent opening of that Northeast Passage is part of the process we're seeing."