Maritime Shipping on the Northern Sea Route: Need for Greater Emphasis on Mutual Cooperation and a Non-Negotiable Safety Culture. Part II

• Published in: Arctic and North
• Main Author: Jawahar BHAGWAT
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Northern Arctic Federal University 2020
• Subjects: arctic; arctic routes; arctic sea ice cover; the northern sea route (nsr); russia; search and rescue (sar); vessel traffic patterns; geo; envir; Arctic; Northern Sea Route; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.37482/issn2221-2698.2020.40.5; https://doaj.org/article/b835a3d6f4b24d88acd033a4eab6b2f8

The opening of the Northern Sea route (NSR) due to the melting of the Arctic sea ice ushers in many opportunities. The International Maritime Organization has introduced several regulations for shipping and the training of seafarers. The Northern Sea Route has several challenges with respect to the infra-structure and the harsh weather conditions. The recent incident onboard the Viking Sky cruise liner was a reminder of such challenges. The Norwegian authorities responded admirably, and the Search and Rescue operation was conducted with the necessary coordinated effort in the shortest possible time. Other inci-dents along the NSR and increasing ship casualties in the Arctic region which have been analyzed with ref-erence to the adequacy of existing regulations. The author’s opinion is that these incidents bring out a need to examine the adequacy of the Polar code, infrastructure along the NSR and the current state of Search and Rescue (SAR). From a practical point of view the Norwegian experience would be of interest to all Arctic states and the IMO. The evolution of the Polar Code and the challenges in implementation are discussed. The article puts forth several recommendations for improving cooperation and safety with the aim of making the NSR a viable alternative route. This article can be used for educational purposes at universities. It is relevant for civil servants, shipping authorities, search and rescue authorities and researchers involved in developing the Arctic sea routes and specifically the Northern Sea route.