Shipping through the Canadian Arctic is still very limited due to ice conditions. But local players are seeing opportunities in and around the Canadian Arctic thanks to increased mining activity.

Last year, the 1,070-berth cruiseship Crystal Serenity (built 2003) drew attention for being the first non-ice-class vessel to make the transit through the Northwest Passage, the largely impassable route connecting the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans via Canada's portion of the Arctic.