Questioned on the eventual impact of the Arctic route to compete with the Panama Canal, the executive vice president of Planning and Business Development of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), Rodolfo Sabonge, told The Bulletin that studies indicate it is unlikely that in the foreseeable future it will compete with the Panama route.
The Canadian government has indicated that, due to lack of infrastructure support, it would take at least about 20 years to achieve a bathymetry reading (sea depth) along the Northwest Passage through the Arctic. Experts granted that melting levels vary significantly from year to year, which is an obstacle when ship operators plan use of that route. In addition to this, the geographical features of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago make navigation dangerous in that area, imposing speed limits that raise navigation costs. In conclusion, the experts believe that both routes lack adequate infrastructure to provide support to international shipping.
Due to the lack of certainty regarding icing conditions, vessels planned for commissioning to navigate these routes would have to be reinforced and/or escorted by icebreakers during their journeys. The shipping industry, especially those with fixed itineraries, operate on the reliability of a route.
