, Columnist
Arctic Shipping? Still a Dream.
Despite global warming, traversing the Arctic doesn't make business sense.
Still not a great idea.
Image: Hulton Archive/GettyThis article is for subscribers only.
For centuries, a harsh climate and ice-choked seas dashed the dreams of sailors attempting to cross the Canadian Northwest Passage between Asia and Europe. Now, thanks to climate change and reduced ice cover, the trip isn't nearly so daunting. Last weekend, the Crystal Serenity, a luxury cruise ship, carried a record thousand-plus passengers and crew through the passage. Next year, it'll do the same.
Does this mean that the age-old vision of a time-saving, money-making Arctic passage for the world's shippers is finally coming true? Don't bet on it.