Double Acting Ship
Polar Technology

Arctic Bridge
Polar Trade Route

Canadian Shipping
Coast Guard Support

References

The Arctic Bridge is a cost-effective polar maritime trade route linking western Canadian suppliers with markets in Eurasia; presently, the link between the northern ports of Murmansk, Russia and Churchill, Manitoba are of primary focus.  

Savings in distance and therefore time are the key assets justifying the viability of the Arctic Bridge.  To provide perspective for shipping to markets in central portions of North America, it normally takes approximately 17 days to ship between Murmansk and Thunder Bay via the St. Lawrence Seaway and approximately 8 days through the Arctic Bridge to Churchill.        

The port of Churchill is strategically located in the Canadian Prairie region, allowing ease of access to the region’s vast commodities.  The combination of a rail-link to and from southern markets and a short maritime route between northern Europe and Canada makes Churchill a natural outlet for maritime trade development. 

Port of Churchill
Photo Credit: Grant Gelinas-Brown -- Port of Churchill

As the Arctic region’s climate changes, the existing July to November shipping season will likely increase as the presence of sea ice diminishes.  Currently, grain accounts for the bulk of the port’s traffic, although expanding the breadth of traded goods within the Arctic Bridge’s context will likely emerge.