Igor Orlov speaking at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland, October 2015. Photo: Trude Pettersen

Proposes center for supply and logistics in the Arctic

Governor of Arkhangelsk Oblast Igor Orlov wants to establish a center for delivery of supplies to settlements in the Arctic.
March 11, 2016

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The main state users of transportation in the Arctic are the Ministry of Defense, FSB’s Border Guard Service, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Orlov proposes to establish an institute in Arkhangelsk that would be responsible for all logistics concerning transportation of supplies to state customers in the Arctic, TASS reports.

Every year before the winter sets in, settlements in the Arctic, the Far East and in Siberia receive foodstuffs, fuel, construction materials and other necessary supplies. This system is called Severny Zavoz (Northern Supply Haul).

Having a joint logistics operator for delivery of supplies along the Northern Sea Route would eliminate duplication and reduce state expenses on transportation, Orlov believes.

“In Arkhangelsk we have available service infrastructure and transportation infrastructure, we have human resources, and we can develop this transportation without any additional investments,” Orlov told during a meeting in the Arctic Commission in Murmansk on Wednesday.

The governor explained that today the main state users of transportation in the Arctic are the Ministry of Defense, FSB’s Border Guard Service, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Each of them make their own arrangements and engage different transport operators. As a result of this, any small village along the northern coast can experience having three-four parallel deliveries of supplies during the sailing season. “Combined shipping can give significant economic benefits and cut government spending.”

Russia’s Arctic Commission was established in March 2015. Its main objective is to harmonize Russian activities in the Arctic, including the activities of regional authorities and leading companies. The commission has some 60 members, among them four cabinet ministers, the oil and gas industry, the ministry of Defence, the FSB, the Presidential Administration and regional governors.

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Governor of Arkhangelsk Oblast Igor Orlov, Governor of Murmansk Oblast Marina Kovtun and Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Kobylkin are all members of the commission.

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