PortEconomics associate member Adolf K.Y. Ng acted as a lead discussant at the EWC/KOTI Conference on Opening Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Dynamic Changes in the North Pacific Logistics and Resource Security, organized by the East-West Center, the Korean Maritime Institute and the Korean Transport Institute, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, US. 

During the meeting, Adolf acted delivered a speech, entitled: "The Opening of the NSR and Intensified Shipping Activities within the Arctic Region: Impacts and the Way Forward". He argued that the opening of NSR should be a gradual process, of which the impacts of intensified shipping activities on the Arctic region, notably environmental issues and regional development, should be studied in more detail. Moreover, he also questioned whether the economic potential of NSR would be as high as the current general public perceives, at least in the short and medium terms. His views are summarized and can be found in the next newsletter of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) (Q3, October 2011).

For further information on the conference, please refer to the Conference's website