Status and reform of international Arctic shipping law

Abstract

The last years have witnessed a continuous decrease in Arctic sea ice coverage and thickness and a significant expansion in the volume of shipping traffic. This chapter assesses the adequacy of the current international legal and policy framework for Arctic shipping in view of the likelihood that these trends continue in coming years. An overview of the international legal and policy framework is provided, the main gaps therein are identified, and options for addressing these are suggested. Options could be undertaken within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) but also outside the IMO, for instance within the Arctic Council or among ad hoc groupings of states. Separate attention is devoted to the potential for cooperation between the European Union and the United States in this regard.