As we have all seen in the news in recent weeks, commercial shipping has, over the years, been more and more at risk from several different quarters, be it piracy, terrorism or disputes between countries.
Winter shipping is already notoriously difficult and often dangerous. But while winter often meant some of the Northern most shipping routes were once closed off due to ice, increasingly mild winters as brought about by climate change are leading to predictions of shorter ice seasons, and quicker shipping times between Europe and Asia.
The Syrian Refugee Crisis has been affecting business around the world and the shipping industry is no exception. In 2015 over 750,000 migrants had arrived in Europe via sea and this doesn’t include those who have passed boarders undetected. With this figure set to keep rising into 2016 there’s no wonder ocean vessels have been so greatly affected.
Arctic shipping is currently affected more than anything by melting ice.
Shipping accidents, while 18% less than 1980, still occur, particularly in areas of environmental significance. As a result, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conducted research to find out just what the most dangerous shipping routes and oceans are.
With the film awards season drawn to a close, Captain Phillips certainly made its mark. It has shown that piracy is not the glamorously comical jamboree that Disney has presented through the Pirates of the Caribbean saga; it’s far more real, and far more serious.
