Breaking Ice for Arctic Oil

In 1969, an ice-breaking tanker, the SS Manhattan, was commissioned to transit the Northwest Passage in order to test the feasibility of an all-marine transportation system for Alaska North Slope crude oil. The Manhattan made two voyages to the North American Arctic and collected volumes of scientific data on ice conditions and the behavior of ships in ice. Although the Manhattan was the first commercial vessel to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage, the expedition ultimately demonstrated the impracticality of moving crude oil using ice-breaking ships. "Breaking Ice for Arctic Oil" details this historic voyage, establishing its significant impact on the future of marine traffic and resource development in the Arctic and setting the stage for the current oil crisis.