National Defence committee  They say if you can't tie knots, tie lots. I'll start by saying that I would like to take this opportunity to thank this committee for giving me the chance to come in and provide a kind of industry-based opinion on matters of Arctic sovereignty, and indeed operations in Canada'

National Defence committee  Well, I guess I can certainly wrap that up. I can get going. What we have to look at is what does Canada want to do in the Arctic? How do we want to make our presence felt? I would say mandatory requirements under NORDREG--or the northern reporting system for ships--inspections

National Defence committee  It's a very good question, one that I would say many departments within the government are trying to wrestle out. I guess you have to look at the groups that are interested in what happens in the Arctic. I'm talking about Transport Canada, Environment Canada, the Department of Na

National Defence committee  I think the Arctic Council are doing quite a good job. They're dealing with an onerous task because of the issues that are being faced in the Arctic now as to who owns what and who has responsibility over what. In my humble opinion, more teeth need to be put into this kind of com

National Defence committee  It's a good point, a good question. Again, going back to the company that sent its vessels through the northern sea route, they have been able to take advantage of a willing and capable Russian ice ability. They're, as I said, actively engaged in trying to bring in more interest

National Defence committee  I have crossed the Arctic Circle 16 times.

National Defence committee  Well, you're looking at an area that's completely under-developed in terms of enabling shipping activity. Probably I should clarify that there won't be any dramatic increase in shipping activity in the Arctic overnight. It just won't happen. I guess the main issue that causes a

National Defence committee  The Northwest Passage, as I say, is not just one single passage. There is a main Northwest Passage. If you were going up the Davis Strait, and you're going to head west, then you're in the Northwest Passage.

National Defence committee  The Northwest Passage is typically across the top of North America, either direction.

National Defence committee  East or west, it's always the Northwest Passage. It's termed the Northwest Passage. It's an historical reference. It was from the British Admiralty and other groups trying to find their way to India and Asia. It's the fabled Northwest Passage. There was never much thought of comi

National Defence committee  Of course they will. In the very Byzantine world of marine insurance, you are defined by what's called your warranty limits, where your vessel is insurable to sail. There are specific regimes, we'll call them, within the insurance industry for vessels that are moving into the Arc

National Defence committee  No.

National Defence committee  No, no.

National Defence committee  Your first question, about the vessels of opportunity, that's primarily an industry term for vessels that are available for charter. If I'm a mining operator and I need my ore to get out, I'll either have engaged a company who owns ships to do that--that's a liner service--or I'l

National Defence committee  I've been watching the story of the Arctic offshore patrol vessels with a great degree of interest, because in my own opinion I'm a little bit skeptical as to the design of the vessels. An icebreaking vessel is purpose-built and specially designed for just that, for operating in