The Russians have a highly developed mari-
panied by social and economic hardship.
time infrastructure along the Northern Sea
Shortages, inflation, and unemployment
Route and specialized ice navigation expe-
have extended even to the Arctic fleet and
rience that spans many decades. Their Arc-
the maritime trade setting. Now, more than
tic marine system has been used primarily
at any other time in history, Russia is open
to develop Russia's northern regions, ex-
to discussion of the many ways to employ
tract raw materials, and resupply their
their marine infrastructure to raise much-
coastal settlements. They have a fleet of the
needed foreign capital, such as providing
world's most powerful icebreaking ships
icebreaker support for foreign ships, leas-
and specialized, ice-strengthened ships for
ing Russian cargo ships to transport for-
moving most types of cargo. Their cargo
eign goods over the NSR and elsewhere,
ships are small, however, relative to ships
joint venturing with foreign companies in
plying the canal routes.
Russian marine trade, leasing out idle Rus-
Overall responsibility for shipping activi-
sian icebreakers in the U.S. and Canadian
ties on the route currently resides with the
Arctic, and Arctic tourism.
Social instability may be the greatest im-
Administration of the Northern Sea Route
(ANSR) in Moscow. Actual sea operations
pediment to the development of the North-
are directly controlled by two marine op-
ern Sea Route. Labor discontent, currency
erations headquarters: the Murmansk Ship-
devaluation, cutbacks in personnel and ser-
ping Company (MSC) operates the icebreak-
vices, and the inability to maintain the fleet
ers and controls shipping through the
and navigation equipment are all problems
western half of the route, and the Far East-
that directly affect future development.
ern Shipping Company (FESCO) controls
Communication between foreign parties,
the eastern half.
the NSR Administration, and the shipping
A western segment of the route, from
companies is made difficult by outdated
Murmansk to Dudinka, has been open year-
equipment. The result is a climate of uncer-
round since 1980. The remainder is normally
tainty for potential users of the route, which,
kept open for both transit and local freight-
accordingly, diminishes foreign interest. The
ing from the beginning of July through Oc-
Murmansk Shipping Company and the Far
tober. For the Northern Sea Route to be more
Eastern Shipping Company must be will-
attractive as an international trade route,
ing to offer rate guarantees so that the
the length of the shipping season will have
Northern Sea Route maintains an economic
to be extended, if the route is not actually
advantage over other route and transit op-
kept open year-round. Average transit
tions. Finally, the NSR Administration and
speeds need to be increased as well. While
the shipping companies need to be more
the former requirement can be immediately
addressed, at least partially, by enlisting the
potential foreign clients.
underutilized icebreaking and transport ca-
pacity of the Russian fleet, the latter will
The technological advances necessary to enable
likely require better ice forecasting tools and
year-round traffic along the Northern Sea Route
advances in ship technology.
will occur more rapidly if the international com-
There is currently much international inter-
munity perceives a need for them. This would help
est and momentum toward expanded ship-
to promote the growth of the Russian economy
ping development. Since 1987, when the So-
viet Union's new spirit of openness and
ture for that nation, both domestically and inter-
nationally.
much has been made of the possible use of
There is a large degree of skepticism as to
the Northern Sea Route as a major marine
whether the Russians can sufficiently reorganize
trade corridor. Several international orga-
their operations and develop a credible continuity
nizations and regional government bodies
to the extent that foreign shippers will have faith
have endorsed the idea, formulated agen-
in the system. At this time, there is considerable
da, and begun promotional activities.
The USSR's dissolution into the Common-
cess stories will be required. As more successes
wealth of Independent States was accom-
are reported, greater interest is sure to follow, and
58