Law on the Northern Sea Route in the pipeline
As the longest Arctic sailing season ever has come to an end, Russia is about to pass a law that is meant to regulate traffic along the Northern Sea Route.
The Russian State Duma has passed a bill on the Northern Sea Route in a first reading. According to the bill, transport operators, including foreign companies, should have the same access to the Northern Sea Route. A centralized administration for the transport system will be established, but where this administration will be located, remains unknown. The bill also includes articles on navigation, environmental protection and icebreaker assistance, the Ministry of Transport’s website reads.
The bill states that security and icebreaker assistance on the Northern Sea Route is a matter of state monopoly and will be regulated after Russian law on monopolies.
Read also: Record long Arctic navigation season
Russia’s fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers is operated by Atomflot in Murmansk. Local authorities in Murmansk believe the increased traffic along the Northern Sea Route will have a big impact on the development of Murmansk, as practically all vessels enter the port of Murmansk on their way along the sea route:
- The increased number of sailings along the Northern Sea Route is an important factor for Murmansk, says Deputy Minister of Economical Development in Murmansk Oblast Viktor Gorbunov to MBnews. – Having the icebreaker fleet in full-time occupancy directly impacts the speed of development of the fleet’s base itself and of other, associated services.
This season there have been 29 transports along the whole route from Murmansk to the Strait of Bering. In addition, there are is a high number of vessels sailing between Murmansk and towns and oil bases along the northern coast of Russia.
