the Northern Sea Route (formerly known as the Northeast Passage), during which only small ice bergs, ice fields and ice blocks were encountered,1 highlights that the dramatic thinning and melting of Arctic Ocean sea ice witnessed in recent years has the potential to open up long sought but similarly long blocked inter-oceanic sea lanes through the Arctic. The inherent attraction of Arctic navigational options lies in the substantial distance savings that they offer over routes presently used to handle the flow of maritime commerce. There