Felix Katzman
Vice-president,
Russian Academy of Transport

         There are several aspects that single out the Russian Arctic zone from the many other districts, places, and territories of the globe. First of all: the untold wealth in its bowels. Its role and significance increase because of the seas and bays surrounding the shores of the Arctic, that form a united transportation line: the Northern Sea Route.
        In March this year, the Russian Government adopted the Conception of Development in the North. Its basis is transportation, and above all, sea transportation. Thanks to this type of transportation Northern Russia and the 12 percent of Russia's population that live there supply one fifth of the national budget's total income.
        There is no doubt that the Northern Sea Route is the Russian Arctic's natural resource. This main transportation artery connects continents and countries located on three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. It is not only the basis of economic stability in the North but also a very important part of Russian and international transportation systems. The mouths of Russia's main rivers like the Northern Dvina, Lena, Ob, Yenisei, Angara etc. are located on the seas which make the Northern Sea Route. These rivers cross the richest regions of Russia's Northwest, Ural, Siberia and the Far East connecting the largest train lines with mouth ports on the Northern Sea Route, making a united Arctic transportation system. The Northern Sea Route is the basis of this system.
        It is the shortest line between the ports of Western Europe, Russia, the Far East, and South East Asia. By guaranteeing a stable system, a significant part of the cargo presently transported through the Suez Canal can be carried through the Northern Sea Route.
        The Route can serve as a reliable alternative and it may compete with the Suez Canal. This is of no small importance, taking into consideration that no less than 80 mln tons of cargo per annum go through the Suez Canal towards the South (i.e. export from Western Europe) and to the West (Far East import). This cargo includes rolled metals, ore, oil products and other materials, which are also transportable through the Northern Sea Route.
        There is strong evidence which indicates that the Northern Sea Route is more effective in comparison with the Suez and Panama Canals. For example, ships cover 12840 miles from Murmansk to Yokohama (Japan) through the Suez Canal, while only 5770 miles on the Northern Sea Route. The route from Rotterdam through the Suez Canal covers 11250 miles, and through the Northern Sea Route only 7350 miles. A vessel must sail 9700 miles from Murmansk to Vancouver (Canada) through the Panama Canal and 5400 miles through the Northern Sea Route. The trip from Rotterdam to Vancouver is of 8920 miles through the Panama Canal and 6980 miles through the Northern Sea Route.
        These and other advantages of the Northern Sea Route were presented at the First International Eurasian Transport Conference. The measures and decisions that had previously been taken for the development of effective Eurasian transportation links were confirmed in its final declaration. The importance of the Northern Sea Route was the first point to be ratified for it was considered of special significance in the development of effective Eurasian links. The Conference defined the Northern Sea Route as an independent Eurasian transport corridor.
         The role of the Northern Sea Route as an independent transportation passage has considerably increased during these last years. This is connected with the development of Russia's oil and gas extraction from the Arctic shelf and the increase in cargo transportation from Norilsk metallurgical enterprise, one of the biggest world producers and exporters of non-ferrous metals.
        The issues related to the Northern Sea Route can not be studied separately from the general problems of the Russian Arctic. It is no coincidence they attract international attention. The Russian-Norwegian-Japanese team known as INSROP is devoted to researching the possibilities of the Northern Sea Route. However, the effective functioning of the Northern Sea Route as an international transportation passage, which would solve cargo transportation problems by fulfilling the economic needs of Russia and by complying with international requirements, is possible only if addressing the following issues:
        - The creation of a normative and legal base for the Northern Sea Route to function as an international transportation passage, that indicates the order of access of foreign ships to the route and the ports on the route, along with requirements of navigation safety, etc.
        - The renovation and enlargement of the fleet of icebreakers to provide navigation on all lines of the Northern Sea Route irrespective of season and ice conditions. At present there are six nuclear icebreakers working on the route. Soon, after the "Arctic" icebreaker is written off, there will be only 5 ships. According to a most simple calculation, the icebreaker fleet has to be increased at least twofold.
        - The creation of necessary measures regarding navigation safety, including hydrographic safety procedures on all routes with soundings, hydrographic signs, etc.
        - The implementation of measures to provide solutions for social and economic problems, in particular a final resolution to the issue of food delivery to the regions of the North. The principle of survival must to be replaced with the satisfaction of people's fundamental needs.
        - The provision of qualified personnel for the functioning of the route, in particular the training of navigators for work on the Arctic ice-breakers, as well as hydrographers, meteorologists, oceanographers and other specialists.
        - The industrial development of the Arctic with an emphasis on the increase in oil and gas extraction and the transportation of hydrocarbon cargo. This requires special attention to the ecological protection of the North. Thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide and other harmful substances are thrown into the atmosphere in the area of Norilsk, Northern Nickel and other enterprises. This creates intolerable pressure upon the environment and destroys useful areas (pastures, etc.)
        - The creation of a service infrastructure along the whole international transportation passage, i.e. cargo terminals, logistic and communication centers, etc.
        - The development of a concept followed by a Federal program for the development of the Northern Sea Route as an international transportation line. Special attention must be placed on factors that provide favorable cargo transportation conditions. Customs service, tariffs, port fees, guaranteed safety for cargo, traffic safety, etc. must be priorities.

The Northern Sea Route and the entire Russian Arctic region are the country's national wealth and they require the government's special attention.