The Arctic is melting. We already knew that. But did you know that it has melted so much that container ships have sailed through the Arctic for the very first time?

Global warming has melted so much ice that two German container ships have sailed along the Russian Northeast Passage. It’s thought the Passage hasn’t been this ice-free for 5,000 to 7,000 years.

Taking this short cut shaved 3,000 miles and ten days off the journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. The company who own the two ships, Beluga, say they have saved around £180,000 on fuel per ship.

Weirdly, carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming, are actually going to be reduced (in a small way) because of the melting Arctic. As the container ships sailing this Passage use less fuel, they will be responsible for fewer emissions.

Is this a sad example of how far global warming has affected the planet? Or can we find a silver lining in the reduced emissions resulting from the shorter journeys?

More from Gabrielle at www.thegreengal.co.uk

Pic courtesy of NASA.