The Northwest Territories and Arctic maritime development in the Beaufort area /

MAY 2014 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND ARCTIC MARITIME DEVELOPMENT IN THE BEAUFORT AREA JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM AND MARINA GROSU KEY POINTS • The Northwest Territories’ (NWT’s) privileged resource endowment and geographic JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM position on the Beaufort basin provide exceptional opportunities for the territory over the longer term in maritime resource development and destination and transpola [...] Keeping existing governance mechanisms and strategic interests in the region in mind, reserves, local and transpolar shipping, fishing and CIGI researchers will work with national and international tourism are the main opportunities provided by the experts to explore the best possible outcomes of the “great melt,” and what new bilateral and multilateral melting Arctic Ocean. [...] According to have been active in the NWP and Canadian Arctic Nordic Bulk Carriers, the Danish-American company Archipelago for centuries, the Nordic Orion’s historic that owns the Nordic Orion, the usage of the NWP saved voyage demonstrated the viability of commercial fuel, fees and time, reduced CO2 emissions and allowed trans-Arctic shipping through Canadian Arctic waters. [...] The federal government Due to the melting of the Arctic Ocean and the potential retains direct responsibility for the waters of the Arctic of NWT resource development mentioned above, Archipelago, not the territories, and has indirect shipping companies have recognized that shipping responsibility for littoral development. [...] Mackenzie has the potential to become a vital piece Although terrestrial transport and infrastructure are in the logistics of the shipment of stranded resources being developed, large reserves of mining, oil and gas resources in the region will remain untapped, due to lack of access to markets and investment.