"Not invented here" alert: the BBC neglect to mention that the Soviets (and then the Russians) have been using this route commercially since 1935: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_east_passage .
I think the point is that it was done without the help of ice-breakers.
"Navigating it without the help of ice-breakers has only become possible because of the thawing of the Arctic ice - caused, some say, by global warming."
More like "Caused, say 99% of scientists, by global warming"