Military teams are to return to the Northwest Passage this summer to resume work on a troubled project meant to monitor increased shipping through waters Canada claims as its own.
The Northern Watch project is to eventually install high-tech sensors to monitor traffic through the strategic sea lane in all weather -- both above and below the water surface.
Officials acknowledge Arctic conditions have put the project years behind schedule and tripled the original cost.
The sensors were supposed to be operational this summer, a deadline that has now been pushed back to 2015.
They will also cost $18 million, up from the original $6 million.
Shipping traffic is increasing in the Northwest Passage -- there were 15 tanker ships in 2011 alone.
