The Emerging Arctic
A New Maritime Frontier
Summer Sea Ice Retreat
Barrow
Coastal Erosion
Loss of protection from Fall storms
Shishmaref
Kivalina
Economic/Energy Security
At Least $1 Trillion
Hydrocarbons (Oil & Gas)
• Estimated 10 Billion Barrels
• 750,000 sq km sediment > 1 km
Manganese Nodules & Crusts
• Manganese nodules
•182 million tons
•Highest concentration
•Highest grades
• Copper: 9 million tons
• Nickel: 12 million tons
• Cobalt: 5,000 tons
Seasonal Ore Operations
Red Dog Port - 15 March 08
ore carrier receiving a tender
boat offshore
Environmental Security
M/V Sea bulk Pride
M/V Selendang Ayu
Endangered Species
M/S Explorer
Species Movement North
• Stocks are moving North
• No commercial fishing in Arctic
– NPFMC decision
– Large closed area enforcement
challenges
Pervenets
Canyon
Pervenets
Canyon
Zhemchug
Canyon
Zhemchug
Canyon
Pribilof
Canyon
Pribilof
Canyon
NPFMC – North Pacific
Fishery
Management
Council
Arctic Changes Drive Coast Guard
Mission Expansion North
All Coast Guard missions in
Southern Alaska must be
expanded to Northern Alaska
Arctic Ops Summer ‘08
• Arctic Domain Awareness
• Cutter Operations
• Tailored Force Package
Deployment
• Community Engagement
• SAR Exercise
Salliq: Lessons Learned
• Lack of effective communication
• Small boats/short range helos
ineffective
• Require icebreakers or ice hardened vessels with
embarked helos
• Input from indigenous people imperative
• Infrastructure Insufficient
Challenges in the U. S. Arctic
Barrow
•Distances
Kodiak-Barrow = 1660 NM
Kodiak-St Paul = 759 NM
Nome-Barrow = 566 NM
Nome
•Weather
•Lack of Infrastructure
•Lack of Knowledge
Cordova
St. Paul
Juneau
Attu
Kodiak
Dutch Harbor
Cold Bay
Ketchikan
Arctic Operations 2009
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ADA flights
Icebreaker deployments
Tailored force package
Community outreach
Waterways Analysis
Spilled Oil Recovery
System
• Strike Team
The Arctic Conundrum
Development
Environment
People