its sovereign waters, and they guarded these care-
Improvement in the navigation infrastruc-
fully from incursion by foreign vessels, effectively
ture;
eliminating all foreign traffic. Before 1991, the last
Consideration of the rights and well-being
transit of the NSR by a foreign ship was in 1940.
of the region's indigenous peoples;
However, in October of 1987, then-General Secre-
Reduced risk to vessels, cargoes, and the
tary Mikhail Gorbachev announced a new spirit
environment, leading to more affordable
of cooperation in the Arctic regions. As one item
insurance rates.
on the agenda, he proposed opening the Northern
Sea Route, with certain restrictions, to all foreign
All these improvements should serve to make the
vessels for peaceful and commercial purposes. This
NSR alternative more competitive with other
landmark change of policy was the first step in the
routes and hence more attractive to international
privatization of Russia's Arctic fleet. Important as-
shipping.
sets, the NSR and the northern fleet continue to be
promoted for bringing foreign currency into the
country by "selling" premiere Russian ice naviga-
THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE
tion capabilities to the world. The Russians have
ADVANTAGE
proposed the following ways of employing its Arc-
tic fleet to raise foreign capital:
The Northern Sea Route is from 2000 to 3100
nm in length (Ivanov and Ushakov 1992). Esti-
Escort foreign ships along the route with
mates vary because the route is not a unique pas-
Russian icebreakers;
sageway; it is widely regarded as any and all pos-
Transport foreign goods aboard Russian ice-
sible routes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
strengthened cargo ships;
through the myriad straits, passages, open seas,
Encourage the export and coastal movement
and island groups north of the Eurasian land mass.
of Russian goods in foreign ships;
It is, however, legally defined by the Admin-
Employ idle Russian icebreakers and cargo
istration of the Northern Sea Route (ANSR) in
vessels in the U.S. and Canadian Arctic;
Moscow as beginning at the "western entrance of
Promote Arctic tourism.
the Novaya Semlya (sic) Straits and the meridian
north through Mys Zhelaniya" and ending "by
the parallel 66N and the meridian 16858'37"W"
The world's northern-tier nations and territo-
ries have become increasingly attracted to the idea
(ANSR 1991). This essentially constitutes the area
of a trade route that will open new markets to
extending from the islands of Novaya Zemlya in
their exports. In addition, income for their own
the west to the Bering Strait in the east.
economies will be generated by providing ports of
Navigational difficulties are considerable in the
call along the route.
far north due to bitter weather conditions, ice-in-
fested waters, the short daylight season, and isola-
tion. So why is the NSR considered a possible in-
Further development needed
The challenge of the physical environment of
ternational marine trade route? Some of the many
the Northern Sea Route will require the develop-
reasons include:
ment and exploitation of technologies pertaining
to ship design as well as ship operations. Public
Shorter distances between northern ports
policy alternatives will have to be investigated,
in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans;
some of which pose difficult trade-offs between
The presence of an existing cargo base;
economic development and other considerations
The availability of a currently underutilized
such as social well-being and environmental pro-
transportation infrastructure;
tection.
Potential stimulation of the Russian
Establishing a viable year-round cargo trans-
economy;
portation system will require advances in several
The prospect for investment opportunities
areas, including:
in Russia.
Further development of markets for car-
While it is beyond the scope of this report to fully
goes;
expand on these points, each is addressed in some-
Development of larger, more powerful, and
what more detail below.
more economical icebreaking ships;
3
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