Skip to main content

Abstract

When INSROP was established some five years ago, one of its mandates was to investigate the commercial viability of using the Northern Sea Route for trading purposes. To this end, Sub-programme III set out to collect information regarding commercial operations in the NSR and possible ways in which the route could be used. A great many papers have been produced, of which only a selection can be presented here. A wide range of commercial issues have been examined, including cargo generation, energy-related trade, port development and transit cargo potential, to mention only a few. In this chapter, the focus will be on three main areas:

  • NSR development and the regional economy

  • cargo generation from Russia to western and eastern destinations

  • the possible use of NSR for transit purposes.

Edgar Gold has written section 4.2.4, Marine Insurance. Michael Tamvakis and Alexander Granberg are jointly responsible for the rest of the chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. For a comprehensive account of the historical development of the NSR see chapter 1 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  2. For a description of what the NSR is see chapter 1, subsections 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  3. The security aspects of the NSR in a historical perspective are treated in chapter 1, section 1.3.1: Role of Military Interests, and in chapter 5, section 5.1 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  4. For a discussion of the actual military utility of the NSR, see chapter 5, section 5.1.2. of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  5. For a discussion of the administrative aspects see chapter 5, section 5.2 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  6. See section 4.2.4 Marine Insurance.

    Google Scholar 

  7. For variations in ice conditions see chapter 2, section 2.2 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  8. For reduction in distances see chapter 1, subsection 1.1.3 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  9. B. Buchan (95): ‘The Potential of The Northern Sea Route for a Regular Cargo Service’, INSROP Working Paper no. 15, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  10. A.V. Ierusalimsky, S.M. Ponomarev & T.M. Semanova (96): ‘New Concepts of Removing Ice. Investigation of the Efficiency and Advisability to Use Non-traditional Shape of Hull Lines for Icebreakers and Icebreaking Cargo Ships of Arctic Navigation’, INSROP Working Paper no. 62, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  11. A.V. Ierusalimsky (95): ‘New Concepts of Removing Ice: Patent Search, Generalisation and Analysis of Existing Russian Inventions’, INSROP Working Paper no. 21, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ships older than the normative age, except for those working in more favourable ice conditions were excluded from the list.

    Google Scholar 

  13. The state of the Russian Arctic Fleet as described in this chapter is supplemented by additional information in chapters 2 and 3, sections 2.4 and 3.3 respectively, of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  14. For a discussion of the ‘out-of area ports’ see chapter 1, subsections 1.1.1, 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  15. This is a common problem with international seaborne statistics. The only source of disaggregated seaborne statistics between maritime trade areas (rather than just countries) was the UN Maritime Transport Study. It was published annually and contained all seaborne commodity trade flows up to level 4 of the UN Maritime Trade Classification system (similar to the SITC system), for a total of 33 maritime trade areas that covered all the world. Due to its detail and scope, this publication presented data with a 3-year time lag. The publication was eventually discontinued by the UN: the last issue came out in 1990, containing detailed data for 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  16. S.I. Heimdal (95): ‘Northern Sea Route Freight Operations: Survey of Logistic Modelling’, INSROP Working Paper no. 27, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  17. N. Isakov, A. Yakovlev, A. Nikulin, G. Serebryansky and T. Patrakova (99): ‘Potential Cargo Flow Analysis and Economic Evaluation for the Simulation Study’, INSROP Working Paper no. 139, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  18. For a broader discussion of the societal problems of Russia see chapter 6, section 6.6 and subsections 6.6.1. and 6.6.2 of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  19. T.R Ramsland & S. Hedels (96): ‘The NSR Transit Study (Part IV): The Economics of the NSR. A Feasibility Study of the Northern Sea Route as an Alternative to the International Shipping Market’, INSROP Working Paper no. 59, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Diana L. Torrens (94): ‘Marine Insurance for the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper no. 1, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  21. V.A. Musin (95): ‘Conceptual Grounds of Hull, Cargo and Shipowners’ Liability Insurance when using the Northern Seaway’, unpublished, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Edgar Gold, John A. Cantello & Peter L. Wright (96): ‘Marine Insurance for the NSR: Towards a New Risk Regime?’, INSROP Working Paper no. 46, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Aref Fakhry (96): ‘Freezing Damage to Northern Sea Route Cargo: Liability and Insurance Considerations’, INSROP Working Paper no. 72, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Edgar Gold, John A. Cantello, & Peter L. Wright (97): ‘Marine Insurance for the Northern Sea Route: The Feasibility of a New Risk Regime. Some Initial Conclusions’, INSROP Working Paper no. 85, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ibid., Appendix I & II. It was shown that, since the work had commenced, the sub-project had made contacts with and/or presentations to: 36 major marine insurers; 18 major insurance brokers; 6 liability insurers; 8 major insurance associations; 9 shipping lines; 8 maritime law firms with expertise in Arctic shipping problems; and 13 ancillary associations corporations, based in London, New York, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Murmansk, Oslo, Tokyo, Arendal (Norway), Helsinki, Montreal and Vancouver.

    Google Scholar 

  26. See, for example, T. Armstrong (96): ‘Historical and Current Uses of the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper no. 28, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  27. H. Yamaguchi (96): ‘Experimental Voyage through the Northern Sea Route’, Northern Sea Route; Future and Perspective, The Proceedings of INSROP Symposium Tokyo ‘85, Ship & Ocean Foundation, Tokyo 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Anders Backlund, Edgar Gold & Jari Kivela (98): ‘Using the INSROP Phase 1 Data in a Transport Evaluation Process’, INSROP Working Paper no. 95, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Valery A. Musin (98): ‘Marine Insurance for the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper no.98, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Edgar Gold, John A. Cantello & Peter L. Wright (99): ‘Shipping and Marine Insurance on the Northern Sea Route: Conclusions 1993–1998’, INSROP Working Paper no. 124, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  31. See M. Niini (96): ‘Experiences of Three Years of Oil Transportation in the Russian Arctic with a Western Fleet’; and A. Backlund (96): ‘Seaborne Oil and Gas Transportation from Northern Russia’, in Northern Sea Route; Future and Perspective,The Proceedings of INSROP Symposium Tokyo ‘85, Ship & Ocean Foundation, Tokyo 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  32. CanArctic Shipping Inc., of Ottawa, Canada, operates six ice-strengthened vessels.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Neste Oy (Since 1998: Fortum Oy) of Helsinki, Finland, which has operated the tankers Uikku and Lunni under Ice Class lA Super marine insurance conditions, and which now operates the Uikku in the ARCDEV project, disclosed that hull and machinery coverage operates with a much higher than normal deductible. However, that there was a choice between higher deductible or higher premium was due to the fact that there had not been any major hull damage in past operations.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Jan Lunde, former Managing Director of Unitas Marine Insurance, of Oslo, in his review of Gold, Cantello & Wright (96): ‘Marine Insurance for the NSR: Towards a New Risk Regime?’.

    Google Scholar 

  35. See Gold, Cantello & Wright (98): ‘Shipping and Marine Insurance on the Northern Sea Route’ pp.11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Gold, Cantello & Wright (97): ‘Marine Insurance for the Northern Sea Route: The Feasibility of a New Risk Regime’.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Gold, Cantello & Wright (98): ‘Shipping and Marine Insurance on the Northern Sea Route’.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Details of the objectives and operations of the ARCDEV project can be found on the Internet at http://www.arcdev.neste.com.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Anthony Paul (98): ‘Digging your Way out of Recession’, Fortune, 7 September 1998, p. 18.

    Google Scholar 

  40. N. Isakov, G. Serebryansky, A. Parfenov, T. Patrakova & N. Sadofieva (97): ‘Regional Port Development Along the NSR’, INSROP Working Paper no. 87, 1997; and N. Isakov, A. Nikulin, N. Popovich & I. Sverdlov (97): ‘Marine Oil Transportation from Timan Pechora and Inland Russian Fields’, INSROP Working Paper no. 89, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  41. N. Isakov et al. (97): ‘Regional Port Development ’

    Google Scholar 

  42. CNIIMF materials.

    Google Scholar 

  43. A.G. Granberg (95): ‘The Significance of the NSR for Regional Development in Arctic Areas of Russia’, INSROP Working Paper no. 19, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  44. N. Isakov et al. (97): Marine Oil Transportation from Timian Pechora and Inland Russian Fields’, INSROP Working Paper no. 89, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Transport by NPS is reckoned to be cheaper for long distances than shipments by above-water transport: by several per cent during the summer navigation season; in winter almost two times lower. However, re-equipping a single ‘Akula’ may cost as much as some 700 million roubles.

    Google Scholar 

  46. N. Isakov et al. (97): ‘Regional Port Development’.

    Google Scholar 

  47. S. Hoifodt, V. Nygaard & M. Aanesen (95): ‘The Northern Sea Route and Possible Regional Consequences’, INSROP Working Paper no. 16, 1995; S. Hoifodt, V. Nygaard, M. Aanesen & G.B. Honneland (97): ‘Selected Issues on Regional Economic Development Along the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper no. 54, 1996; and A.G. Granberg: ‘Selected Studies in Regional Economic Development along the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper no. 74, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  48. For the relationship between BEAR and the NSR see chapter 1, subsection 1.1.2, of this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  49. The Barents Euro-Arctic region was extended to include Oulu in Finland and Västerbotten in Sweden in 1998, hence its ‘international’ character. Because of this expansion, however, some might well question its continued functionality as an economic region.

    Google Scholar 

  50. N. Isakov et al. (97): ‘Regional Port Development’.

    Google Scholar 

  51. T. Wood & R. Martin (96): ‘Seagoing Logistics Solutions to Oilfield Material Supplies’, INSROP Working Paper no. 50, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  52. S. Hdifodt et al. (96): ‘Selected Issues of Regional Economic Development’ and N. Isakov et al. (97): ‘Marine Oil Transportation’.

    Google Scholar 

  53. T.R. Ramsland (95): ‘Oil Product Export from North West Russia’, INSROP Working Paper no. 8, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  54. S. Heifodt et al. (96): ‘Selected Issues of Regional Economic Development’.

    Google Scholar 

  55. T.R. Ramsland (96): ‘The Northern Sea Route and the Rivers Ob-Irtysh and Yenisey’, INSROP Working Paper no. 44, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  56. The possibility of using production technology and transportation of gas-hydrates, produced from natural gas (‘gas-in-ice’), is also under study.

    Google Scholar 

  57. A.G. Granberg (97): ‘Selected Studies in Regional Economic Development along the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper no. 74, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  58. T.R Ramsland (96): ‘The Northern Sea Route and the Rivers’.

    Google Scholar 

  59. A.G. Granberg (99): ‘Cargo Forming Potential of Sakha(Yakutia), Chukot Autonomous District and other Far-Eastern Regions for the Northern Sea Route’, INSROP Working Paper 135, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tamvakis, M., Granberg, A.G., Gold, E. (1999). Economy and Commercial Viability. In: Østreng, W. (eds) The Natural and Societal Challenges of the Northern Sea Route. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9409-7_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9409-7_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5376-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9409-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics