Arctic shipping traffic soared to a record 1,812 ships in 2025, driven by natural resource projects and increased fishing and tourism activities.
The number of ships operating in the Arctic reached a record high in 2025, according to new data from the Arctic Council's Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment, reports New York's Marine Link.
The group's Arctic Ship Traffic Data System recorded 1,812 unique ships entering the Polar Code area, marking a 40 percent increase since 2013. Distances sailed rose by 95 percent to 11.9 million nautical miles.
September 2025 saw the highest traffic, with 1,060 ships entering the area, accounting for 58 percent of the year's total. Fishing vessels made up 40 percent of entries, followed by general cargo ships.
Crude oil tankers showed the largest growth, rising by 396 percent since 2013. Bulk carriers increased by 156 percent, while cruise ships rose by 123 percent.
Deputy Secretary Hjalti Hreinsson stated that natural resource projects were driving the rise. The Mary River Mine in Nunavut boosted bulk carrier traffic in Baffin Bay by 540 percent, while Russia's Yamal LNG project introduced 15 custom-built carriers, raising gas tanker numbers to 40 in 2025.
Mr. Hreinsson added that resource extraction and cruise tourism are reshaping Arctic shipping, with new projects expected to further impact traffic statistics.
