Throughout human history, the wider Arctic region has traditionally been considered a harsh and inhospitable environment for a rather self-explanatory reason: dire year-round environmental conditions, which, at a minimum, severely hindered or even completely blocked the necessary access and transport connections.
By Dimitrios Dalaklis, UArctic Chair in Search and Rescue, Profeassor, Head of Maritime Administration and Environmental Protection (MSEA) Specialisation, World Maritime University
However, the continued warming of the Arctic atmosphere and ocean has resulted in an ice retreat situation which is breathtaking in scope. It is not a coincidence that Indigenous communities – who have sustainably inhabited and stewarded this region for millennia – today face existential threats to their food security and cultural continuity. At this point in time, the Arctic Ocean and Adjacent Seas (AOAS), including
surrounding landmasses, stand at the forefront of global environmental transformation, serving as a harbinger of climate change and a frontier for emergent geopolitical and economic interests.
Climate change has dramatically reduced ice coverage in the region under discussion, with human activities following a totally different trend. Increased numbers of touristic endeavours are recorded. The total number of fishing vessels operating in the AOAS is also following the same path. Similarly, the number of ships that are serving international maritime transport needs – as well as those delivering local communities’ resupply – is increasing over time. Commercial flights transiting through the Arctic Ocean should also be factored into this rather complex equation. The forecasted increase of human activities in the Arctic, from both ships and aircrafts that will be regularly transiting or operating in the wider region in years to come, is clearly expected to place higher demands on the existing search and rescue (SAR) infrastructure.
It is worth noting that the sheer size of the Arctic region, paired with the long distances of a SAR incident from the station of a responder, no matter who the concerned stakeholder is, makes Arctic SAR operations particularly challenging. In addition to the long distances often described under the term “tyranny of distance,” SAR responders are commonly facing treacherous mountain ranges, icy conditions, volatile seas, unpredictable sea ice, extreme temperatures, and substantial differences in seasonal daylight. These challenges are very often combined with a lack of support or communications infrastructure. While SAR is a challenging mission in any operating environment, these unique characteristics transform Arctic SAR into an effort unequalled in difficulty.
On a positive note, the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic effectively coordinates international SAR coverage and response efforts in the region under discussion and establishes the area of SAR responsibility of each state party. This agreement was the first legally binding instrument negotiated and adopted under the auspices of the Arctic Council and has been a decisive step in the establishment and enhancement of SAR infrastructure in the Arctic. At minimum, intensifying cooperation
in and around AOAS, including the transparent sharing of information among all concerned states, should be approached as an important prerequisite for addressing all the previously mentioned challenges. All Arctic stakeholders must continue to work together in congruence to improve SAR capacities and promote the safety of humans, and essentially all life, throughout the Arctic region to preserve the integrity of this unique and important ecosystem.
Photo: Max5128/ Adobe Stock
UArctic Chairs are highly qualified academics who serve as academic drivers in a broad area of relevance to the Arctic. They implement and drive collaborative actions in research and education among UArctic members and Thematic Networks and build partnerships with the broader Arctic community.
