INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION: New shipping routes in the Bering Sea and Bering Strait, aimed at reducing the risks of incidents and to protect the marine environment as well as local fishing activities, have been agreed by IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR).
The six two-way routes and six precautionary areas, to be voluntary for or all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above, in the Bering Sea and Bering Strait off the coast of the Chukotskiy Peninsula and Alaska, were proposed by the Russian Federation and the United States. These waters are expected to see increased traffic due to rising economic activity in the Arctic.
In addition, the Sub-Committee agreed to establish three areas to be avoided in the Bering Sea, proposed by the United States, to improve safety of navigation and protect the fragile and unique environment.
