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Arctic traffic monitoring system gets WWF blessing

Arctic traffic monitoring system gets WWF blessing
A new monitoring system for maritime traffic, dubbed MONALISA Ice (MICE,) is to begin testing aboard a Swedish icebreaker, having garnered praise from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

“As the sea ice melts in the Arctic, shipping will increase significantly and, thus, it is crucial to ensure high traffic quality and interweave comprehensive consideration of this sensitive and highly seasonal environment,” said Mattias Rust, WWF maritime officer.
 
MICE, developed in cooperation between the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, consists of a global system of traffic monitoring without shore-based AIS stations or radio comms installations. Vessels are treated as base stations, communicating course, speed, and other relevant information to one another.
 
“Our expertise is a valuable resource for safety and environmental protection now that new traffic patterns are emerging in the Arctic,” said Per Setterberg MICE project manager for the Swedish Maritime Administration. “We are capitalising on the Sea Traffic Management (STM) concept developed within the framework of the MONALISA project by adapting it for the Arctic environment.”