MS Nordic Orion

MS Nordic Orion is a Danish bulk carrier registered in Panama City. A coal and ore carrier, Nordic Orion has a capacity of 75,603 tonnes deadweight (DWT). It was built in 2011 by Oshima Shipbuilding. Nordic Orion has an ice-strengthened hull,^[2] and it is notable for being the first large sea freighter to transit the Arctic Northwest Passage.^[3][4][5][6] It is owned and operated by Nordic Bulk Carriers.^[3]

The bow of the Nordic Orion in 2019
History
Name	Nordic Orion
Owner	Bulk Nordic Orion Ltd.
Operator	Seamar Management S.A.
Port of registry	Panama City, Panama
Ordered	27 March 2006
Builder	Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Saikai, Japan
Laid down	10 June 2010
Launched	17 December 2010
Completed	4 February 2011
Identification	DNV ID: 28927 Call sign: 3FDS9 IMO number: 9529463 MMSI number: 373437000
Status	In service
General characteristics [1]
Type	Bulk carrier
Tonnage	40,142 GT 25,265 NT 75,603 DWT
Length	225 m (738 ft)
Beam	32.31 m (106 ft)
Draught	14.089 m (46 ft)
Depth	19.39 m (64 ft)
Ice class	DNV ICE-1A
Installed power	MAN 6S60MC-C
Propulsion	Single shaft; fixed pitch propeller
Speed	12.9 knots (23.9 km/h; 14.8 mph)

Voyage through the Northwest Passage

Nordic Orion started its voyage from Port Metro Vancouver, Canada, on 6 September 2013, carrying a cargo of 73,500 tons of coking coal.^[7] The ship completed its voyage through the passage on 27 September stopping at Nuuk, Greenland^[2] and reached its destination, the Port of Pori, Finland on 9 October 2013.^[8]

Using the Northwest Passage shortened the distance between Vancouver and Pori by 1,000 nautical miles compared to the traditional route via the Panama Canal. Fuel savings were approximately US $80,000.^[7][9] Nordic Orion was also able to load 15,000 tons more cargo than it could if it had sailed through the Panama Canal, due to the canal's depth limits.^[2]

The journey has been described as an opening of a new era on the commercial use of the Arctic.^[10][11] It has also caused criticism from environmental organisations such as the Bellona Foundation.^[12] Michael Byers, an expert at the University of British Columbia, warned about shallow waters and icebergs that may cause risk even to ice-strengthened ships. According to Byers, Canada's search and rescue capabilities in the Arctic area are poor.^[13]

Nordic Bulk Carriers has acknowledged the Nordic Orion never would have made the voyage if the Canadian Coast Guard had not provided free icebreaker escorts.^[14][15]