The company said that it is responding to these needs by providing nowcasts and forecasts to companies operating vessels transiting the NSR.
“Based on trends observed so far this year, the ice has been receding at a pace consistent with previous years and experts at the Global Ice Centre (GIC) expect this summer’s minimum ice extent to be less than last summer.
“Ice in the Arctic Sea started to melt this year from late May and continues to recede at the same pace seen in the last few years. Currently, the total area of ice coverage is approximately 7.5 mill sq km.
“Looking at region by area, ice continued to melt in the Laptev Sea, which is already mostly open water. However, wide areas of ice still remain in the East Siberian Sea and the Kara Sea. On the Canadian side, there is also sea ice remaining in the Barrow Straits and even a few places within the Canadian archipelago,” Weathernews explained.
Weathernews predicted that soon melting will speed up, heading into the peak of the summer season. Also, ice coverage in September when the greatest area of ice melts in the year could be even less than last summer. However, GIC said that there was also a slight possibility the minimum ice extent might not reach, or exceed the lowest ever recorded surface area seen in 2012.
GIC simulation models showed the route starting to close again in early October, leaving the route open for about six weeks for ships to sail through the Arctic while avoiding areas of concentrated sea ice.