Appearing before the Committee alongside the Danish Chamber of Shipping, Elise highlighted the opportunities arctic shipping presents, including new shipping routes and markets such as arctic tourism. She also spoke about the potential benefits to the UK’s shipping services industry from additional Arctic shipping.

She also stressed to the Committee that while there are unique risks to arctic shipping, such as unpredictable ice flows, proactive processes are in place, both by individual shipping companies and through industry initiatives such as the polar code, to ensure environmental and safety risks are minimised. These initiatives also help promote sustainable Arctic shipping.

Speaking after the committee session, Elise said:

“I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to have spoken to the Committee as part of their important inquiry.

“Arctic shipping presents opportunities to the sector, but we need to be careful not to overstate this with any changes likely to be gradual.

“Shipping takes its responsibilities to protect the Arctic environment seriously, and the polar code provides an important framework to ensure measures are in place to ensure shipping in the Arctic is done safely.”

You can watch the evidence session featuring the Chamber on Parliament TV. 

The Committee will, in due course produce a report following its inquiry.