UArctic x LRF Research Fellows appointed to address maritime safety challenges in the Arctic

A total of £200,000 (GBP) has been awarded to the following research projects addressing critical current and emerging challenges of maritime safety in the Arctic region:

• 'Impact of Marine Heatwaves on Sea Ice for Arctic Navigational Safety': This initiative will investigate the effects of marine heatwaves on sea ice patterns, enhancing navigational safety models for the Arctic. This study will be delivered by Dr Bahareh Kamranzad, Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
• 'Historical Accidents and Ships – Inuit Encounters in the North-West Passage': This initiative will document and analyse historical interactions and accidents, offering valuable lessons for current maritime operations. The research will be delivered by Dr Claudio Aporta, Professor and Canadian Chair in Marine Environmental Protection at the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden, together with Associate Professor Dr Anish Hebbar, also at the World Maritime University.
• 'Managing Risk: Rescue Capability Assessment for Cruise Ship Accidents in the Nordic Arctic': This research project focuses on improving existing rescue capability assessment guidelines and risk management for cruise ships in the challenging Arctic waters. The project is led by Dr Dewan Ahsan, Professor of the Department of Business and Sustainability, University of Southern Denmark.
• 'Navigating Risk in the High North: Assessing Automation, Safety, and Labour in Arctic Maritime Operations': This project explores the impact of automation on safety and labour in Arctic maritime contexts, providing critical insights for the industry. Daniel Oliver Paulsen, a PhD student at the University of Bergen, Norway, will lead this project.
• 'Cruise Ship Sagas': This study aims to delve into the narratives and operational realities of cruise ships and communities across the Arctic, exploring implications for regional safety and policy development. The project will be delivered by Dr Patrick Maher, Professor at the School of Physical and Health Education at Nipissing University in Canada.

The fellowship projects will be delivered over the course of two years, running up until the end of 2026. They form part of a broader partnership between UArctic and Lloyd’s Register Foundation aimed at increasing understanding of, and mitigating the risks associated with, Arctic maritime activities.

This fellowship program, in partnership with Lloyd’s Register Foundation, is an important step toward improving Arctic maritime safety. By supporting research on risk, the working environment, historical lessons, and environmental impacts, and fostering collaboration among fellows from different countries across the Arctic, we aim to generate new insights and solutions for safer Arctic operations.

Gunnar Stefánsson, Vice-President of Research at the University of the Arctic

Alex Stitt, Director of the Heritage Centre at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, added: “The profound climate-driven changes affecting the Arctic are creating both challenges and opportunities. While these changes are becoming the subject of increasing political and media attention, it is important that we take proactive action to understand their practical implications, both for maritime safety and for the peoples of the Arctic.

“Lloyd’s Register Foundation is therefore proud to be supporting this programme of work, harnessing both new local insights and the lessons of the past to help keep people living and working in the maritime Arctic safe in these uncharted times.”

For more information on the UArctic x Lloyd’s Register Foundation Research Fellowship programme, please visit the UArctic website.