Arctic Yearbook 2015 | Page 28

28 Arctic Yearbook 2015 2015 May 11th-15th – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopts the environmental part of the International Code for ships operating in polar waters (Polar Code) and associated MARPOL amendments to make the Code mandatory by the Marine Environme nt Protection Committee (MEPC). 21st – US Secretary of State John Kerry hosts a reception in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State to celebrate its Arctic Council Chairmanship. 31st -June 7th – The 2015 Calotte Academy travels to Rovaniemi, Inari and Salla in Finland, Apatity and Murmansk in Russia, and Kirkenes in Norway. 1st – Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act comes into force, establishing Polar Knowledge Canada, a new federal research organization that combines the mandate and functions of the former Canadian Polar Commission and the Canadian High Arctic Research Station program. June 1st – Digital diplomacy meets the Arctic, as the five Nordic Ambassadors to the United States host a Twitter Town Hall under the hashtag #AskNordicAmbs to discuss the US Arctic Council Chairmanship themes of climate change, stewardship of the Arctic Ocean, and improving economic and living conditions in the Arctic. 12th – Policy Options for a Changing Arctic 2015 (POCA2015). The Northern Research Forum, in collaboration with the Interuniversity Research Center on the International Relations of Canada and Québec (CIRRICQ), co-organize a full day workshop on US Arctic Policy in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Admiral Robert J. Papp, the first US Special Representative for the Arctic takes part in the days’ meeting and launches the State Department’s Arctic Council Chairmanship on Canadian soil. 15th – “Kayaktivists” attempt to block Shell’s drilling rig the Polar Pioneer from departing Seattle’s Elliott Bay. The Polar Pioneer is one of two drilling vessels used by Shell in its 2015 Chukchi Sea drilling expedition. 2015 Year in Review