In the wake of melting arctic ice and the opening of the northwest passage, the US Coast Guard is planning its first Arctic operating base, to deal with cruise ships, tankers, and whatever other boats start to ply their way through clearer northern waters (NY Times). It would probably be near Barrow, they say, with just a helicopter and a few boats to start. This will help increase search and rescue capacity, and environmental protection. It also wouldn’t hurt in terms of protecting any new mineral resources found in the arctic seabed, the NY Times hints.

They don’t say, but this is surely part of the new national maritime strategy announced jointly by the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard on Wednesday (press release). This “addresses politically sensitive issues, such as global warming and the emerging dispute over access to the previously ice-bound Arctic seas”, according to the Government Executive. Many stories emphasize that the strategy marks a new emphasis on humanitarian roles for the navy (see for example: LA Times).

For local news angles, you may want to keep an eye on the Alaskan paper the Arctic Sounder, due out later today (in the meantime check out last week’s issue for an amazing snap of beached walruses and other climate change news).