Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route
As Arctic sea ice continues to melt and global demand for clean energy rises, Russia’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) are rapidly increasing. To ensure the operational safety of LNG carriers and safeguard the economic interests of stakeholders, including shipown...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2166 |
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| author | Long Ma Sihan Qian Haihui Dong Jiemin Fan Jin Xu Liang Cao Shuai Xu Xiaowen Li Chengcheng Cai Yuanyuan Huang Min Cheng |
| author_facet | Long Ma Sihan Qian Haihui Dong Jiemin Fan Jin Xu Liang Cao Shuai Xu Xiaowen Li Chengcheng Cai Yuanyuan Huang Min Cheng |
| author_sort | Long Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As Arctic sea ice continues to melt and global demand for clean energy rises, Russia’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) are rapidly increasing. To ensure the operational safety of LNG carriers and safeguard the economic interests of stakeholders, including shipowners, a thorough assessment of the navigability of various ice-class LNG carriers along this route is essential. This study collected Arctic ice condition data from 2014 to 2023 and applied the Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS) methodology to calculate the Risk Index Outcome (RIO) for LNG carriers with No Ice Class, Arc4, and Arc7 ice classifications in Arctic waters. A navigability threshold of 95% RIO ≥ 0 was established to define navigable windows, and critical waters were identified where sections of the route remain in hazardous or risky conditions year-round. The results indicate that for No Ice Class vessels, Arc4 vessels, and Arc7 vessels, the navigable windows for westbound Route 1 and Route 2 under light, normal, and heavy ice conditions range from 70 to 133 days, 70 to 365 days, and 70 to 365 days, respectively, while for eastbound Route 3, the navigable windows range from 0 to 84 days, 0 to 238 days, and 7 to 365 days, respectively. The critical waters affecting the navigability of No Ice Class vessels, Arc4 vessels, and Arc7 vessels are primarily located in the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea. This study, using the POLARIS methodology, provides valuable insights into the navigability of LNG carriers with different ice classes along the NSR, supporting the development and utilization of Arctic energy and shipping routes while offering decision-making support for stakeholders involved in Arctic maritime operations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-857f16e6dcd44495a3426d625f210bac |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-857f16e6dcd44495a3426d625f210bac2025-08-20T02:56:48ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122024-11-011212216610.3390/jmse12122166Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea RouteLong Ma0Sihan Qian1Haihui Dong2Jiemin Fan3Jin Xu4Liang Cao5Shuai Xu6Xiaowen Li7Chengcheng Cai8Yuanyuan Huang9Min Cheng10Naval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaKey Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Hainan Province of Hainan Free Trade Port International Shipping Development and Property Digitization, Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology, Haikou 570100, ChinaMerchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaNaval Architecture and Shipping College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaAs Arctic sea ice continues to melt and global demand for clean energy rises, Russia’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) are rapidly increasing. To ensure the operational safety of LNG carriers and safeguard the economic interests of stakeholders, including shipowners, a thorough assessment of the navigability of various ice-class LNG carriers along this route is essential. This study collected Arctic ice condition data from 2014 to 2023 and applied the Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS) methodology to calculate the Risk Index Outcome (RIO) for LNG carriers with No Ice Class, Arc4, and Arc7 ice classifications in Arctic waters. A navigability threshold of 95% RIO ≥ 0 was established to define navigable windows, and critical waters were identified where sections of the route remain in hazardous or risky conditions year-round. The results indicate that for No Ice Class vessels, Arc4 vessels, and Arc7 vessels, the navigable windows for westbound Route 1 and Route 2 under light, normal, and heavy ice conditions range from 70 to 133 days, 70 to 365 days, and 70 to 365 days, respectively, while for eastbound Route 3, the navigable windows range from 0 to 84 days, 0 to 238 days, and 7 to 365 days, respectively. The critical waters affecting the navigability of No Ice Class vessels, Arc4 vessels, and Arc7 vessels are primarily located in the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea. This study, using the POLARIS methodology, provides valuable insights into the navigability of LNG carriers with different ice classes along the NSR, supporting the development and utilization of Arctic energy and shipping routes while offering decision-making support for stakeholders involved in Arctic maritime operations.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2166LNG carriersnorthern sea routenavigabilityPOLARISoperational safety |
| spellingShingle | Long Ma Sihan Qian Haihui Dong Jiemin Fan Jin Xu Liang Cao Shuai Xu Xiaowen Li Chengcheng Cai Yuanyuan Huang Min Cheng Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route Journal of Marine Science and Engineering LNG carriers northern sea route navigability POLARIS operational safety |
| title | Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route |
| title_full | Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route |
| title_fullStr | Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route |
| title_short | Navigability of Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers Along the Northern Sea Route |
| title_sort | navigability of liquefied natural gas carriers along the northern sea route |
| topic | LNG carriers northern sea route navigability POLARIS operational safety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2166 |
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