WWF in the Arctic: Barents Sea

Shipping

Shipping in and through the ecoregion is expected to continue to increase substantially over the coming years, possibly by a factor of ten by 2020. This is due to the development of new petroleum fields in the Barents Sea, and also because transport of petroleum from existing inshore fields is likely to be shifted from pipelines to ships.

If existing plans to build a pipeline to the Kola Peninsula are realised, Murmansk will have one of the world's largest oil terminals by the end of the decade. In addition, the possible opening of the "Northern Sea Route" for commercial traffic and the development of the "Northern Maritime Corridor" may result in increased ship traffic through the ecoregion.

An accident with a ship containing oil, radioactive wastes or other hazardous cargo could have devastating effects on both biodiversity and industries. Many oil terminals are poorly secured and the coastline in the ecoregion is among the most hazardous in the world, with rough weather and innumerable islands, skerries and rocky shallows. In addition to accidents, both operational discharges and illegal dumping of oil in the sea is a widespread practice in shipping, giving rise to a number of chronic pollution problems.

The introduction of alien species via ships' ballast water is another major environmental problem. With increased shipping, in particular exports of high-density cargoes, the volume of ballast water discharged into the Barents Sea will increase.