2009-08-29
2 German Freighters Embark on Historic Journey From South Korea to Holland via Russia's Arctic Coast. By Eric Kirschbaum, Reuters, August 21, 2009. "Two German ships set off on Friday on the first journey across Russia's Arctic-facing northern shore without the help of icebreakers after climate change helped opened the passage, the company said. Niels Stolberg, president and CEO of Beluga Shipping GmbH, said the Beluga Fraternity and Beluga Foresight left the Russian port of Vladivostok on the historic and cost-saving journey with cargo picked up in South Korea bound for Holland. The melting of Arctic ice as a result of climate change has made it possible to send Beluga's multi-purpose heavy lift ships along the legendary Northeast Passage, Stolberg said. Beluga got Russian authorities' clearance to send the first non-Russian commercial vessels through the route on Friday. The Northern Sea Route trims 4,000 nautical miles off the usual 11,000-mile journey via the Suez Canal."

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