FOR the first time in recorded history, a direct seagoing route through the Arctic - connecting Europe and Asia - is ice-free after unprecedented melting this summer.

While scientists warn the disappearing ice cap is an environmental disaster, shipping companies are eyeing up a lucrative new shipping lane that would dramatically alter the dynamics of global trade.

The long-sought after short cut through the Arctic would trim thousands of miles off the journey between the booming manufacturing centres in the Far East and consumer markets in Europe.

But with ocean traffic potentially arriving from the north of Britain could Southampton's future as one of Britain's busiest and most important ports be another victim of climate change?

Southampton handles more than 1.5 million containers a year and the docks inject millions into the local economy, but established northern ports - such as Liverpool and Hull - are geographically better placed to capitalise on the Arctic shipping lane.

Earlier this week, nearly 200 satellite images taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) revealed that the North West Passage along northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland was ice-free.

In addition, they found that the North East Passage, which runs parallel to the north coast of Russia, may also soon become "navigable".

The 3,200 mile North West Passage, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has until now been considered too hazardous for commercial shipping. For centuries, explorers tried in vain to find a way through the icy passage to estab-lish a trade route to Asia.

This week it was predicted that within a matter of ten to 20 years ships from Europe could be regularly travelling to the Pacific through this new route - avoiding the Panama Canal and Suez Canal - and cutting thousands of miles off the journey and resultant fuel costs.

Nations such as Russia, the US and Canada are already fighting to protect their claims to Arctic waters that would earn billions in fees from ships.

Chamber of Shipping spokesman Matt Mckay said: "The main benefit of the opening of the North West Passage would be the potential this route would have, if proved viable, to significantly reduce the voyage time to the Far East.

"This represents a major implication for commercial shipping as some 5,000 miles could potentially be shaved off the route from Europe to the Far East."

Mr Mckay added that Liverpool was best perhaps placed to take advantage of the new shipping lane.

He said: "There are a fair few existing ports across northern Europe which would all potentially benefit.

"Bearing in mind the passage, it is not too far for commercial ships to come down to Liverpool which has substantial existing infrastructure there."

Robert Minton-Taylor, a spokesman for shipping company Wallenius Wihelmsen, which exports cars around the world out of Southampton, said its trading lanes were tailored for their customers and were unlikely to change in the near future.

"We don't sell direct to Asia, we call at ports along the way and as far as I am aware we are not looking at shortening our routes," he said.

"I doubt very much whether we are looking at the North West Passage as a commercial possibility as of yet. Indeed, we're worried about the environmental consequence of why the trade lane is opening up, rather than jumping in and making hay while the sun shines."

A spokesman for ABP said: "Although the potential development of the Arctic trade route is obviously a matter of global interest, we think it is far too early to speculate as to whether or not it would affect Southampton's position as a leading port for international trade."