Dmitry Rogozin insists on designation of special logistic operator for Northern Sea Route (photo)
A meeting of the State Commission for Arctic Development (SCAD) should be held in late April 2016 to discuss the issues of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and to designate a special logistic operator for NSR, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin as saying at the SCAD meeting held in Murmansk on March 9, 2016.
“NSR Administration just registers the clients’ applications but a logistic operator is required to carry on a dialogue and to encourage partners through highlighting the advantages of cargo transportation by NSR, to conduct continuous economic monitoring of the Northern Sea Route,” said Dmitry Rogozin.
Yuri Sychev, Director of the State Oceanographic Institute named after N.N.Zubov commented on the suggestion of Dmitry Rogozin: “Current practice of NSR transportation shows that problems emerge frequently when it comes to coordination of different carriers’ activities. Logistic operators are required to coordinate and plan shipping. Even today, when traffic volumes are low, it is difficult to find a vessel. Besides, the issue of transportation rates is still open.”
Sergei Kachayev, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East, reminded that the Ministry had been entrusted by RF President Vladimir Putin to elaborate a financial economic model for the development of NSR as a competitive transport corridor, also for container transportation. “Within the coming three months it is necessary to prepare a forecast for revenues and expenditures of RF budget from NSR and to define optimal forms of state participation in its development. Economic assessment of transportation via the Suez Canal and the Northern Sea Route is to be carried out for different types of cargo till 2030. Besides, capital expenses for NSR development are to be estimated, including those for infrastructure development along NSR. Financial economic models are to be developed for the key stakeholders of the Northern Sea Route till 2030”, said Sergei Kachayev.
Victor Olersky, Deputy Transport Minister of the Russian Federation, added that Russia needs a transport structure adequate for extreme conditions. “We have prepared a draft concept of transport system development with a basic principle of uninterrupted transportation of cargoes and passengers between the points of the Arctic zone and outside it. NSR is the basic of the Arctic transport system and its development is a priority,” he said.
