Rather terrifying to think that the ice has melted so much that ships can navigate through:

The polar route to the port of Bayuquan, China, is about 40 percent shorter than the route through the Panama Canal, according to Fednav. Through fuel savings, the company expects to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions during the voyage by about 1,300 metric tons (1,430 tons).

http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/cargo-ship-is-first-to-solo-the-northwest-passage-141002.htm