What is a Port Access Route Study?

One purpose of a Port Access Route Study (PARS) is to bring together the need for safe access routes with other reasonable waterway uses. The U.S. Coast Guard considers coastal communities, fishing, commercial traffic, military needs, resource development, wildlife presence and habit, tribal activities, and recreational uses.

A PARS also seeks to reduce the risk of marine casualties and to increase the efficiency of vessel traffic in the study area. Recommendations from a PARS may lead to future rulemaking or international agreements. The Coast Guard has more about PARS here.

Why is the U.S. Coast Guard conducting a PARS in the Arctic?

Sea ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean, including in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas has been declining over the years. These changes in the Arctic are affecting the people, wildlife, and habitat of the region. This has resulted in increased levels of government attention, media interest, scientific research, natural resource exploration, and eco- and adventure tourism. Increased vessel traffic can come from expanded commercial use of the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route as alternative and potentially shorter and faster shipping routes for international trade.

The Coast Guard is initiating the study to analyze current vessel patterns, predict future vessel needs, and balance the needs of all waterway users by developing and recommending vessel routing measures for the Arctic.

How can I participate in the study?

The Coast Guard encourages public participation and you can do so by:

• Submitting a public comment by June 30, 2020.

• Requesting a public meeting directly from the Coast Guard.

• Inviting the Coast Guard to participate in a scheduled meeting.

• Learning about Arctic PARS by reviewing this website, reading the Federal Register Notice, and attending local meetings when possible.

• Sharing local knowledge about the Alaskan Arctic during the study period.

What kind of information is the Coast Guard looking for?

The Coast Guard has specific areas of interest for initial public comment, such as identifying specific locations, times, or instances where future vessel activity could increase significantly or cause undesirable consequences. There are many sources of knowledge that can help with understanding of sensitive marine and coastal environments as it relates to increased shipping in the Arctic region.

• Times and/or locations where vessel operations could cause significant consequences to species of concern, subsistence activities, marine mammal migration routes, or other equities.

• Areas of known biological importance, such as the area of the Hanna Shoal, and whether they are of importance year round or only during specific times.

• Specific times and locations of current and expected future subsistence activity.

• Areas identified or expected to have high potential for Outer Continental Shelf resource development, to include oil/gas development, development of renewable energy sources, and extraction of seabed resources.

• Onshore areas of particular environmental concern.

• Areas where extreme weather or ice conditions that could impact navigation are expected to be present, now or in the future.

• Any information on prevailing wind/current patterns and how they might change in the future in varying scenarios of decreasing or increasing sea ice coverage.

• Any information on specific habitat characteristics (for example, water depth, ocean currents, or distances to or from land or sea ice) that tend to attract higher concentrations of marine mammals.

What is the PARS Timeline?

The Port Access Route Study will involve multiple stages over time. The Coast Guard anticipates at least 4 years for completing the process. There will be multiple opportunities for the public to review potential routes as well as a possible U.S. rule making process.

General timeline and milestones:

• December 21, 2018 – September 2019

  • Federal Register Notice posted - Describes the need for the study and and initiates the request for the public to comment.

• September 2019 – September 30, 2021

  • Extension of the public comment period - The Coast Guard extended the public comment period to June 30, 2020, in response to initial comments from municipal and tribal governments, native corporations, and conservation non-governmental organizations requesting additional time to develop comments. On June 12, 2020, the comment period was extended to Sept. 30, 2021, in response to a request from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and considering the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

• October 2021 and beyond

  • Port Access Route Study (PARS) to look at vessel traffic, marine environments, and other considerations - The study will lead to a set of recommendations on vessel traffic management tools in the Arctic.

  • U.S. Interagency Group - – Interagency coordination is required on proposals from the United States that are submitted to the International Maritime Organization.

  • International Proposal Negotiations - The U.S. will coordinate with Canada to ensure cross-border cooperation on vessel traffic management measures in the Arctic. Other international negotiations may take place as needed.

  • Rulemaking – Following PARS recommendations, the Coast Guard will develop proposals for the U.S. domestic rulemaking process for near shore waters up to 12 miles, and to the IMO for international shipping.

  • Adoption by the International Maritime Organization – The Coast Guard can develop and submit proposals on behalf of the U.S. Government to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). As a specialized agency of the United Nations, the IMO is the recognized authority for international maritime shipping interests and the safety of navigation at sea.