The Arctic 2030 Project: Feasibility and Reliability of Shipping on the Northern Sea Route and Modeling of an Arctic Marine Transportation & Logistics System 1-st Industry Seminar: NSR s Legislation, Tariff System & Insurance Historical overview of NSR legislation/regulations since Soviet times to the present. Mr. Sergey Balmasov, Head of CHNL s NSR Information Office (sergey@chnl.no) Thursday 25 June, 2015, Oslo.
Historical overview of NSR regulations since Soviet times to the present. To cover the question of the modern legislation thoroughly it is necessary to track the key stages of development, cause-effect relationships and the main driving forces influencing formation of legislation. The special role in development of NSR belongs to icebreaking fleet. Only with the advent of the first icebreakers people got access to regions of the Arctic inaccessible earlier. Until nowadays the powerful modern icebreaking fleet has been the basis of NSR transport infrastructure.
The first polar icebreaker in the world Ermak commissioned on 17 October 1898 stared a new era in Arctic navigation fleet got active ability to overcome ice resistance. But before 1920 icebreakers mainly made expeditionary voyages. Built for the Imperial Russian Navy under the supervision of vice-admiral Makarov by Armstrong Whitworth in Newcastle. Presence of ice Icebreaker constructed to break through ice up to 2 m in thickness. The history of active commercial development of NSR began with expedition voyages at the beginning of the 20th century. Flat costal surface.
The main expedition sailings and significant events during the period from 1900 to 1920 1878-1879 1-st transit sailing through Northern Sea Route (NSR) from the west to the east. E. Nordensheld s Swedish expedition on the schooner Vega. 1901 The Yermak icebreaker made a trip to New Earth and the archipelago Franz Joseph Zemlya. 1913 Taimyr and Vaygach icebreakers discovered the archipelago Severnaya Zemlya. 1914-1915 1st transit sailing through NSR from the east to the west. Taimyr and Vaygach icebreakers passed NSR during two navigations. 1916 In the note of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lands and islands, discovered by Vilkitskiy expedition in 1913 1914, were declared to be included in the territory of Russia. 1918 Order by Sovnarcom on appropriation of 1 mln. Rubles for the expedition to explore the Arctic Ocean. May 21, 1919 Russian Provisional Government of the Northern Area order On establishing interdepartmental committee for organization of a maritime expedition to Siberia.
In the beginning of the XX century development of the NSR became an essential task for Russian economy. The development of agriculture in Siberia connected with mass resettlement of peasants on its territory demanded search of new export routes of the Siberian bread to the world markets.
The first experience of mass vessel pilotage unambiguously testified to necessity of creation of transport with strong hulls and icebreakers with the increased power. 1921 Decree of Establishing Floating Maritime Science and Research Institute. The Institute s area of operation was the Arctic Ocean with its seas and estuaries of rivers, islands and adjoining coast of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. 1923 beginning of the Kolyma expeditions became preparation for opening of navigation though all NSR. In Soviet period, during 1922-1932, the USSR had 10 ice breakers (from 3000 h.p. to 10 000 h.p.) with a total power of 51 000 h.p. 1923 1933 19 polar radio meteorological stations were built on the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean. In 1932 by the Government resolution 1873 GLAVSEVMORPUT was formed: "To form the Head Department of the Northern Sea Route (HDNSR). To set the task to tread finally the Northern Sea Route from the White Sea to the Bering Strait, to equip this route, to maintain it and to ensure sailing safety on this route".
Regular commercial navigation starts since August 8, 1920 19 vessels of the 1st Karskaya (Khlebnaya) expedition left Arkhangelsk to Ob Bay. 11 thousand tons of bread and other goods were exported from Siberia during the first expedition.
A special governing body «Glavsevmorput» (Chief Directorate of the Northern Sea Route) was set up in 1932. Glavsevmorput became the Soviet agency for exploiting resources and coordinating supplies and transport. Organization employed 35,000 men. Glavsevmorput was engaged in creation of special icebreaking and transport fleet, hydrographic and air support for Arctic navigation, geological, meteorological and geographical research. The office was empowered to establish seaports and trade with the United States and Japan. In 1953 the organization was downgraded to a department within the Ministry of Merchant Fleet. (previous rank - national ministry) In 1964 the department was dissolved. Its units were reassigned to Ministry of Merchant Fleet, Commission for Meteorology and Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Head of Glavsevmorput 1932 1939 Soviet scientist, mathematician, astronomer, geophysicist, statesman, academician. Otto Yulyevich Schmidt
Power of icebreakers was insufficient for active fight against ice outside the summer-autumn period (July -September) when the Arctic seas are cleared of an ice in the maximum degree. In 1932 the icebreaking steamship Alexander Sibiryakov for the first time made transit sailing from the West to the east throughout the Northern Sea Route during one summer navigation, sailing in practically clear water. In 1933 repeated attempt of transit sailing on the Northern Sea Route of the steamship Chelyuskin failed, with the beginning of winter the vessel wasn't able to overcome an ice bridge before an exit to clear water of the Chukchi Sea, and on February 13th, 1934 was crushed by ice and sank. 1934 Fedor Litke icebreaker passed all way from the east to the west during one navigation. Sailing of Litke confirmed possibility of cargo voyages through NSR. In 1935 only 4 steamships were successfully piloted through NSR with the participation of icebreakers Fedor Litke, Yermak, Krasin, Lenin. 1936 pilotage of the Baltic fleet warships to the Far East was successfully carried out.
Soviet steamship Chelyuskin became ice-bound in Arctic waters during navigation from Murmansk to Vladivostok. Otto Yulyevich Schmidt
Icebreaker fleet development In 1930-40 the Arctic ports Dickson, Tiksi, Pevek, Provideniya were constructed. In 1937 in the Laptev Sea there were more than 20 steamships and icebreakers on the enforced wintering. Vessels were rescued in the summer of 1938, the icebreaking steamship Georgy Sedov - only after 3 years of the enforced drift in ices. In 1937 the world's 1st Soviet polar drifting scientific station North Pole-1 led by I.D. Papanin began operating. 1937-41 in the USSR 4 ice breakers similar to 10 000 h.p. I. Stalin were constructed. In 1939 the ice breaker I. Stalin made double transit sailing during one navigation. 1941-45 during the War period Arctic Convoys transported about 22% of lend-lease cargoes 3 964 000 tons. 120 vessels out of them transited through NSR with 450 000 tons of cargo. 1954-56 The structure of icebreaking fleet was enlarged with three ice breakers of the finnish construction Captain Belousov, Captain Melekhov, Captain Voronin with power of 10 500 h.p.
Icebreaker fleet development 1953-59 construction and commissioning of the 1st in the world atomic icebreaker "Lenin 20.11.1953 Council of Ministers adopts decision to built the atomic icebreaker; 25.08.1956 i/b laid at A. Marti Shipyard (from 1957 «Admiralteyskiy Shipyard»); 03.12.1959 i/b commissioned to the Ministry of Maritime Fleet; 1989 year took out of service, Ice piloted: 3741 vessels 1960-1969 entered into operation 5 of the Finnish icebreaker built with a capacity of 26,000 hp ("Moscow", "Leningrad", "Kiev", "Murmansk", "Vladivostok").
Icebreaker fleet development The need to provide functioning and development of Norilsk industrial region The necessity for year-round navigation in the Western Arctic Construction of powerful atomic icebreaker fleet and infrastructure on the coast of Kara sea To fulfill the program of year-round navigation the state allocated about 200 bln. USD (1975 year prices) Atomic icebreakers of Arktika type: Propulsion Capacity 54 MW; Water displacement 23 000 t; i/b Rossia 21.12.1985 i/b Sovetsky Soyuz 29.12.1989 i/b Yamal 28.10.1992 i/b 50 Let Pobedy 23.03.2007 Atomic Icebreakers of Taimyr type: Propulsion Capacity 35 MW; Water displacement 21000 t; i/b Taimyr 30.06.1989 i/b Yaygach 25.07.1990 1971 Statute of the Administration of the Northern Sea Route - approved by Resolution No. 683 of 16 September 1971 of the Council of Ministers of the USSR 1977 icebreaker "Arktika" reached the North Pole. 1978 year-round navigation opened in the Western Arctic (port of Dudinka)
Universal Atomic Icebreaker
Principal Dimensions Project 1052 Project 10580 Project 22220 Basic area of operations Arctic Yenisei River and shallow Permanently Western Arctic incl. Barents, Pechora and Kara Sea, shallow waters of the Yenisei River (up to port of Dudinka) and the Gulf of Ob. Eastern Arctic Arctic waters in summer-autumn period Length overall, m 148,0 150,0 173,3 Beam, m 30,0 29,2 34,0 Board height, m 17,2 15,2 15,2 Draught, m Minimal Water displacement, t Minimal Quantity and power of turbines, kw 11,00-23 460-8,1-19 600-10,5 8,55 33 530 25 540 2 * 27 580 2 * 18 400 2 * 33 500 Propulsion, hp 75 000 50 000 91 000 Ice-free water speed, knots 20,8 20,2 ~ 22 Ice passability, m 2,25 1,95 2,8 2,9 Shaft power to water 2,09 1,66 1,79 displacement Crew quantity 107 91 75
Latest development 1990 Regulations for Navigation on the Seaways of the Northern Sea Route, approved by the Minister of the Merchant Marine on 14 September, 1990. 1996 Guide to Navigating through the Northern Sea Route (4151B) 1996 Regulations for Icebreaker and Pilot Guiding through the Northern Sea Route 1996 Requirements for the Design, Equipment, and Supplies of Vessels Navigating the NSR 1997 the Russian Federation ratified the Convention of the UN on a marine law dated 1982 2001, July 28, President of the Russian Federation approved Marine Doctrine of the Russian Federation for the Period through 2020 (No.Pr-1387) 2002 and 2009 IMO Voluntary Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters 2003 Termination of government subsidies from the Federal budget for the icebreaker fleet. 2004 formally the Administration of NSR ceased to exist, there was a department of icebreaking provision of Rosmorrechflot of Ministry of Transport of the RF. 2005 the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of Russia A. N. Chilingarov emphasized the importance of the NSR
Latest development 2005 Federal Tariff Service established Tariffs for services of icebreaking fleet on NSR per 1 t of freight depending on a sort of freight and irrespective of an ice class, distances & season. 2007 State Council and Government Marine Board offer modernization of the Arctic transport system. Legal innovations to be reflected in the new act of the Arctic legislation. Since 2007 the state subsidies for the maintenance of nuclear icebreaking fleet were revived. 2008 Ilulissat, Greenland. Arctic Ocean Conference: "UNCLOS Provides Solid Foundation. We therefore see no need to develop a new comprehensive international legal regime to govern the Arctic Ocean". 2008 Atomic icebreaking fleet transferred from the MSC to FSUE Atomflot. 2011 The Federal Tariff Service confirmed the tariffs for icebreaker services dated 2005, but defined that they are Maximum and can be applied at the level or below a Maximum tariff. July 28, 2012 Federal Law No. 132-FZ On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the RF Concerning State Regulation of Merchant Shipping on the Water Area of the NSR Federal Law dated August 17, 1995 N 147-FZ On Natural Monopolies. Federal Law No. 81-FZ dated April 30, 1999 Merchant Marine Code of the RF. Federal Law dated July 31, 1998 N 155-FZ On Internal Sea Waters, Territorial Sea and Adjacent Zone of the Russian Federation
Federal State Unitary Enterprise of Atomic Fleet Atomic Fleet has 18 units: Personnel: 1137 Atomic Vessels - 10 Atomic Icebreakers 9 Among them operational 4 + 1 in reserve Atomic container carrier - 1 Special Vessels 5 Floating Port Crane 2 Floating Docks Coastal Facilities: Personnel: 851 base for the atomic icebreaking fleet full complex of ship repair nuclear fuel handling radioactive wastes handling
Latest development 30.01. 2013 Federal Tariff Service hasn't established new tariffs yet, but it allowed Atomflot to use the operating tariffs by he letter dated 30.01. 2013 562 before the new ones are established. February 20, 2013 Strategy of development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and ensuring national safety for the period till 2020 was developed and approved by the President. March 15, 2013, Federal state Institution The Northern Sea Route Administration was established according to the Order of the Government of Russian Federation 358-p April 12, 2013 New Rules of navigation on the Northern Sea Route registered at the Russian Ministry of Justice. March 04, 2014 Order 45-T/1 On approval of the tariff rates for provision of icebreaking pilotage services provided by the FSUE «Atomflot» on the NSR water area February 3, 2015 Russian government approved establishment of state commission on Arctic development. June 08, 2015 Russian Prime Minister signed the integrated development plan of the NSR. (Navigation, hydrographic support, pollution control, search and rescue infrastructure)
Building reserved for the The Northern Sea Route Administration in Moscow
Conclusions The modern laws regulating navigation on the water area of NSR were developed on the basis of the experience gained in the past taking into account the current situation. Within decades the legislation of NSR was formed under the influence of various factors and historical circumstances. For the last 100 years of NSR development climatic, technological and geopolitical conditions have seriously changed. Certainly such changes are reflected in approaches and principles of laws formation, which have to correspond in the best way to all modern circumstances and challenges.
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