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The safety of those aboard the cruise liners is an issue that often finds itself overlooked in favour of the more pressing environmental risk involved with Arctic tourism. Although in a different region, the recent sinking of the cruise ship Costa Concordia in Italy is a warning for how Cruise tourism in the even more volatile climate of the Arctic is simply a recipe for disaster. The icy remote and unnavigable waters of the Arctic region may look idyllic, yet despite this many potential dangers lurk below the waters. It is not uncommon for small chunks of centuries old ice fragments and icebergs to rest on the sea bed which are virtually undetectable through most aquatic thermal imaging cameras. These are unbelievably solid and have the potential to damage many of the cruise tourism ships. Harking back to my previous example of the sinking of Italian Cruise liner Costa Concordia, you can only imagine can imagine the increased severity of the situation had it occurred in Arctic temperature waters, which have been known to fall to a minimum of -34®C during peak winter season. Not only does undetectable sea ice jeopardize the safety of the liners passengers, you also risk of accidental discharges of oil as a result of because of grounding or collision.
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The Lure of 'Last Chance Tourism'
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'Destination Arctic remains tethered to its representation as a last great wilderness’- Bryan Grimwood (University of Waterloo, Canada)
Undoubtedly the attraction of the Arctic is the limited number of people who have experienced it. however the number of visitors is firmly on the increase. High demand has meant that many companies to offer Arctic Cruises now market and price their experiences as an opportunity to see an untouched area of natural beauty. The cruise ship Crystal Serenity's recent expedition through the north west passage in particular has provoked a wealth of controversy.
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Although the Crystal Serenity's cruise in the North West passage was a thoroughly thought through and meticulously planned voyage, it cannot be ignored that it is the rapid effects of climate change that have made the voyage possible. As is reiterated by NBC news coverage, 'retreating ice cover is turning a route that’s traditionally been a dream of expedition-style adventurers into a 21st-century luxury-cruise destination' (NBC, 2014). However ultimately the company (Crystal Cruises) which supplied the Crystal Serenity Cruise are a business and have competitors which they are obliged to compete with for trade. Sadly for the fragile arctic environment the company are therefore likely to seize the opportunity to offer a rare itinerary for their passengers, regardless of the controversy and concerns over the cruises ethics and sustainability.
Whilst executives from Crystal Cruises stress that they have undertaken two years of research and attempted to scout the route many times to ensure that the trip can go ahead while also being environmentally minded, the arctic is a volatile climate and certainties are never clear. Crystal cruises state that they are
using Marine Gas Oil and a low-sulphur fuel supplier to ensure minimal environmental damage yet they continue to exploit the increasingly accessible Arctic environment, and therefore cannot distance themselves from the impacts of climate change which facilitated their trip in the first place. The Crystal Serenity is the embodiment of the rise in extinction tourism.
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The Crystal Serenity sailing through the Northwest Passage (Above) And the Crystal Serenity shortly after leaving port with over a thousand Arctic tourists (Below)