On trip to Greenland, Sen. King finds effect of climate change ‘amazing and scary’
Source: Portland Press Hearald
Maines U.S. Sen. Angus King returned from a fact-finding trip to Greenland on Thursday determined to push for more icebreakers to clear emerging Arctic trade routes, some of which could be built in Maine.
The United States has only one working heavy icebreaker capable of clearing shipping lanes through Arctic waters as the ice sheet there melts, while Russia has at least a dozen, King said. Icebreaking abilities are essential in a warming world, he said.
Arctic trade could play a big role in the Maine economy, with Maine ports being the first ones reached by ships traveling east through the Northwest Passage, King said. So icebreaking is important to the states economic future, as well as Americas, he said.
President Obama has set aside money for another heavy icebreaker to be built in the future, but by the time it is done, the existing ship will probably need to be retired, still leaving the United States with just one, King said.
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Read more: http://www.pressherald.com/2016/08/25/on-fact-finding-trip-to-greenland-sen-angus-king-finds-effect-of-climate-change-amazing-and-scary/
Gman
(24,780 posts)Now it's real.
marybourg
(12,611 posts)"We each know how we want to spend our own money", when taxes were an issue.
I guess no-one wanted to spend his own money on an icebreaker.
eppur_se_muova
(36,257 posts)YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)I mean is anyone else getting this? Who do they intend to trade with. Oh, that would be Russia.
Judi Lynn
(160,515 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,295 posts)That's what the North West Passage has always been aimed at - at first from Europe, and later from the North American Atlantic coast.
Zing Zing Zingbah
(6,496 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,295 posts)So it's not that surprising they have a lot more icebreakers. Maybe it would be a good idea for the USA to have 2.
dembotoz
(16,799 posts)humans are still around because we tend to adapt.
Long term....don't invest in florida real estate.....and build ice breakers
and thousands of other changes...we screwed the pooch and we need to figure out our next step