State, industry join efforts in Arctic shipping

-Transport and logistics are the keys to the development of oil and gas, as well as mineral resources in the Arctic, Felix Tschudi, CEO of Tschudi Shipping said in a press conference in Kirkenes today. He highlighted that the mission of the centre will be to study ways to make transport solutions in the region both profitable and environmentally sustainable. He also underlined that Russian institutions will be included in the centre activities. –Russia is the by far most developed shipping nation in the Arctic, Mr. Tschudi said. The High North Logistics Centre is established on an initiative from Felix Tschudi. It will operate on a five-year basis with support from the Norwegian government, the Tschudi Shipping Company and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association. Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his presentation of the new centre highlighted the unique cooperation between the government and the shipping companies. The three founding partners will include teaching and research institutions like the Norwegian School of Management and the High North Centre in Bodø in centre activities. The town of Kirkenes, located on the Barents Sea coast just few kilometres from the Russian border, will function as a hub for centre activities with both master and PhD students.