Arctic Council key in making Northern shipping safe: society

The worlds largest shipping and offshore classification society says the Arctic Council has a key role in ensuring shipping is safe in the North.

In its recent report, DNV-GL,a certification and advisory organization,shows therisk for human life is 15 to 30 percent higher in the Arctic,depending on if someone is travelling on a bulk carrier or a cruise ship.

• Report: The Arctic - the next risk frontier

Knut rbeck-Nilssen,the Maritime President with DNV-GL,says the Arctic Council's international treaty on Arctic search and rescue, as well asthe agreement on marine oil pollution, preparedness and responsecan go a long way towards improving safety in Arctic waters.

"It's very encouraging that the Arctic Council take a lead on this," rbeck-Nilssen says.

"Obviously among the Arctic states [it is very]important that they come together and collaborate on some of these issues because it is a very efficient way of sharing some of the big resources needed for emergency operations."

rbeck-Nilssensays he is eagerly awaiting the completion of the Polar Code,an international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.