RF Transport Ministry suggests NSRA reorganization and authorization for additional functions (photo)

The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation is going to reorganize the Northern Sea Route Administration (NSRA) which currently performs formal functions being in charge of issuing permissions for NSR navigation. The NSRA is to be authorized for additional functions and to be expanded for performing a wider range of tasks covering hydrographic and rescue issues as well as for operating the entire fleet of icebreakers able to work in the Arctic and for partial dealing with issues related to logistics and coordination of shipping.

According to IAA PortNews correspondent, that was announced by Vitaly Klyuev, Director of the Department of State Policy for Maritime and River Transport, RF Transport Ministry, at the international conference “Arctic Dialogue” organized by the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, information agency Regnum, Media Group PortNews and Russia-Baltic Media Center.

RF Transport Ministry is believes that the Northern Sea Route Administration can take over most of the functions foreseen by the RF Government’s order on establishment of a unified logistic operator of the Northern Sea Route. 

“The idea of a unified operator in the Arctic is hard for the business to take in, - said Vitaly Klyuev.  – We agree that the operator is not much-needed by the business. But the issue of proper organization of state resources, their integration, reduction of costs and improvement of efficiency has to be dealt with”.

As of today, several state bodies operate at the lanes of the Northern Sea Route. Among them is the NSRA, Atomflot, Rosmorport, Hydrographic Department and State Marine Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot. 

“We are looking into integrating those structures, - explained Vitaly Klyuev. – Then the icebreakers can be authorized for emergency-rescue function, icebreaking rescue ships can be deployed for icebreaker escorts, carrying of pilots and performing of hydrographic sounding. Thus, we will perform several tasks and save money, plus NSR traffic management and monitoring. In our opinion, the new Northern Sea Route administration will be able deal with some commercial issues, not in full, of course.”

As IAA PortNews is informed, the proposal of the Transport Ministry has been supported by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.