Arctic Marine Risk Assessment Guideline

Identifying a Need for a Common Approach to Marine Risk Assessments

EPPR had identified an existing need for a common approach to marine risk assessments in the Arctic region, and based on a scoping workshop in 2017, Norway developed a project proposal that was approved in June 2018. The Risk Assessment initiative is a follow up to the Arctic Council Framework Plan for Oil Pollution Prevention (FPOPP, 2015).

In 2018, the project performed a wide screening of existing methods, tools and data currently used in marine risk assessments in general, not only in the Arctic Region. The screening included outreach to international subject matter experts and an open webinar to summarize and discuss the findings. The work also benefitted from cooperation with HELCOM’s Open Risk Project. The screening concluded that current methodologies, tools and data cover a variety of needs and purposes, but that specific Arctic risk influencing factors generally are sparsely addressed.

Development of the Arctic Marine Risk Assessment Guideline

Based on the screening of existing methods, tools and data, the project analyzed how Arctic conditions may influence marine shipping risk, and related environmental risk. A common structure was developed based on the IMO Polar Code Risk Matrix, and the results were presented and discussed in a second open webinar for international subject matter experts. A synthesis of the results from both the screening and the Arctic risk influencing factors was also presented and discussed at a back-to-back side meeting with the Arctic Biodiversity Congress (ABC) in October 2018.

Based on the feedback from the experts and stakeholders, it was indicated that a guideline focusing on Arctic conditions and risk drivers would be useful and promote a more common approach to marine risk assessments in the arctic region. The guideline focuses on the Arctic region but may also be relevant in any area where Arctic conditions may occur. The guideline focuses on risk assessments for ship traffic based on the ISO 31000 Structure.

Arctic Marine Risk Assessment Guideline

Arctic Marine Risk Assessment Fact Sheet

The Arctic Marine Risk Assessment Guideline project was conducted by the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) with support from DNV GL. The current updated version is maintained by the NCA.