Arkhangelsk Maritime Partenariate

This week 80 Russian, Norwegian, Swedish and British businesspeople, politicians and researchers gathered in Arkhangelsk to discuss further cooperation within transport and logistics in the High North.

- Networking is the clue and pre-condition to find new solutions and new developments, Project leader in StratMOS Olav Hauge said in his presentation of the project. We started networking 6 years ago, so it takes long time to come to the encouraging level it has today, but then it has the potential to be lasting.

Russian and Norwegian maritime politics were presented by high ranking officials from both countries. Amongst the Russian companies that presented their activities and possibilities were the giant shipyard Sevmash, Russia’s largest shipping company Sovcomflot and Rosmorport, the agency responsible for harbor construction and infrastructure in Russia.

The participants in the partenariate were taken on excursions to Sevmash, Arkhangelsk Commercial Port and Rosneft’s oil base.

The Arkhangelsk Maritime Partenariate was organized by the StratMOS/NMC (Strategic Motorways of the Sea/Northern Maritime Corridor) Project. StratMos has about 30 partners from nearly all North Sea countries and associated partners in Northwest Russia.

Northern Maritime Corridor (NMC) is one of StratMOS’ demo projects, aiming at developing more frequent and regular sea services between the Continent/UK and Norway/North West Russia. The demo project is carried out together with Russian partners.

- Even though there were fewer private companies participating than we had hoped for, the conference was a success, says project coordinator in StratMOS/NMC from the Norwegian Barents Secretariat Harald Sørensen. - It is important that both decision makers and private companies are made aware of the large potential for business within shipping and petroleum projects in the Arkhangelsk area.