Russian Government to exclude Murmansk and the Barents Sea from Northern Sea Route

(Photo: Getty Images) On Tuesday last week, the Russian Duma adopted new regulations with regards to Northern Sea Route.

The law states that the port of Murmansk, Barents and Pechora Seas are not going to be included in the new definition of Northern Sea Route.

New definition adopted by Russian Duma, delineates the passage from the eastern coast of Novaya Zemlya, the Kara Gate and the straits between the mainland and the Vaygach island. From the east, the Northern Sea Route would include the areas of Russian – Alaskan sea border and the latitude of Cape Dezhnev, the easternmost point on Russian territory.

New regulations, which will enter into force in the beginning of 2013, are to include the establishment of Northern Sea Route Administration. The body will be responsible for managing ice – breaking operations and sailing services. What is more it will provide with the radio communication and hydro-graphic information, organize search and rescue operations and prepare preparedness measures on emergency situations.

According to the Russian Ministry of Finance, the NRS project, including new administrative body is an investment of over 700.000 Euros.

The Northern Sea Route is the Russian name for commonly known Northeast Passage. The passage occurs as a great commercial potential both for Russians, who directly benefit from cutting down the shipping distance between Europe and East Asia and Europeans, whose nurtured vision of the revolution in sea trade has never completely died out.

With respect to new regulations created by Russian Duma, the Arctic Portal will provide with new maps to reflect the new definition of Northern Sea Route. Please, be referred to Interactive Mapping System to view interactive data maps and to the Shipping Library to access current maps ´images.