Transport and logistics capabilities of the Russian Arctic: current state and prospects for development

Abstract

This article deals with the study of the topic of transport and logistics capabilities of the Russian Arctic. The author proposes the scheme for organizing the transportation process along the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The presented scheme is based on the use of maritime shuttle shipping between two large logistics hubs located at the entrances to the NSR. It is suggested that Murmansk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, by its climatic conditions, are the most appropriate logistics hub candidates, as both of them are ice-free on a year-round basis. The paper also shows a comparative analysis of the current transport and logistics capabilities of these ports, and provides some proposals for their further development with the help of foreign investment. The author considers the most favored nation treatment regime (e.g. advanced social-economic development territories and Porto Franco regimes) as the most effective measures undertaken by Russian government to attract foreign investments for expanding logistics capabilities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. As a result, it is shown that the application of the concept of maritime shuttle shipping in the Arctic creates the most optimal conditions for the trans-arctic navigation along the NSR on a year-round basis. Moreover, the author presents a thesis that the successful development of the arctic shipping along the NSR will enable Russia to complete the formation of the Integrated National Transport Network, which in turn will allow it to develop the vast internal territories of Siberia and the Far East of the country.