The Arctic climate and environment are changing rapidly and access to natural resources opens up new commercial opportunities in the region. As resource exploration and development increase the volume of maritime traffic in Arctic waters will grow. Consequently, questions related to safety, the environment and sustainability, as well as security, sovereignty and territorial interests in the Arctic become more acute.  

This seminar will explore these questions from Canadian and Finnish perspectives. The seminar will focus on Arctic shipping including vessel and fleet development, regulations and management of shipping in Arctic waters.    

The program is as follows:

09:30 – 10:00       Registration and coffee  
10:00 – 10:15       Welcome and Opening Remarks                              
                             Stephen Chase, Senior Trade Commissioner                              
                             Embassy of Canada to Finland  
10:15 – 10:45       Professor Petteri Taalas
                             Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute  
                             Climate and Safety Service Perspectives for the Arctic areas                               
10:45 – 11:15       Lauri Bäckman
                             Vice President, Arctia Offshore Ltd
                             Ice Management and Oil Recovery at Arctic oil and Gas Fields                                                              
11:15 – 11:45       Session interlude - Coffee  
11:45 – 12:15       Victor Santos-Pedro
                             Director, Design, Equipment & Boating Safety, Transport Canada
                             Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment, NORDREG & the Polar Code                                                                      12:15 – 12:45      Subject, Speaker and Title TBC  
12:45 – 13:00      Panel Discussion / Roundtable and Closing Remarks



The registration deadline is March 8, 2011.

For further information and registration, please contact:
Johanna Hämäläinen
Programme Coordinator Political & Public Affairs
Embassy of Canada, Helsinki
Tel.: +358 9 2285 3305
Email: johanna.hamalainen@international.gc.ca