Ebook: The Natural and Societal Challenges of the Northern Sea Route: A Reference Work
- Tags: Interdisciplinary Studies, Regional/Spatial Science, Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences, Regional and Cultural Studies, Ecotoxicology
- Year: 1999
- Publisher: Springer Netherlands
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
Yohei Sasakawa The Northern Sea Route is the shortest shipping route connecting the Far East and Europe. However, the route has been practically inaccessible to commercial vessels, due to the harsh natural conditions in the area, which make navigation possible for only a small part of the year, and then only with an icebreaker leading the way. Opening the Northern Sea Route would greatly facilitate international shipping, making two routes - a northbound one through the NSR, and a southbound one through Suez- available throughout all seasons. The Northern Sea Route would also help to boost economic development, including the exploitation of natural resources in Russian regions along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Thanks to international cooperation, we have been able to set up and successfully conclude a special project to investigate the possibilities of developing the Northern Sea Route as a commercial route, while protecting the environment, wildlife and peoples of the Arctic Ocean region. This represents a highly significant step in terms of future global development.
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) through Russia's ice-infested Arctic waters can potentially halve sailing distances between Europe and Northeast Asia. It also passes by some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves. As we enter the 21st century, technological, political and even climatic developments are again making the NSR an interesting possibility.
Is international, commercial shipping on NSR feasible - economically, technologically and environmentally? This has been the topic of six years of research within the International Northern Sea Route Programme (INSROP), enlisting the expertise of 450 researchers from 14 countries.
Acknowledging the complexity of the problem, the research programme used a uniquely multi-disciplinary approach, with 104 sub-projects mapping and investigating relevant ship technology, the costs and benefits versus other transport routes, potential impacts on the environment and local indigenous peoples, the cargo potential, political and administrative obstacles, the availability of insurance, aspects of security, jurisdiction and environmental law, as well as other aspects.
The results and conclusions of the 104 studies have been integrated and is presented in this book - the first book ever to address the Northern Sea Route in such a comprehensive manner.It is truly a reference work, which should be on the desk of all commercial and political decision-makers concerned with the commercial potential and future development of Northern Sea Route shipping - as well as other stakeholders and interested experts.